Commercial observations by Maxar and other companies in the NEI field differ from deliberate military close approaches such as Russia’s recent maneuvering near a US-registered radar-imaging satellite. At the same time, a new Defense Intelligence Agency assessment describes China’s progress in directed-energy and other anti-satellite technologies, while the United States and Russia continue developing and deploying systems for orbital warfare.
Directed-energy weapons and anti-satellite systems
The DIA’s Space Threat Assessment includes updated information about China’s pursuit of anti-satellite, or “anti-space,” weapons. According to intelligence reports, the Chinese military likely considers directed-energy weapons (DEWs) an “ideal counterspace system” because they could permanently or temporarily disable satellites. Lasers in space could also be used to blind sensors on enemy spacecraft.
“China possesses multiple ground-based laser weapons with varying power levels to jam, degrade, and damage LEO satellites,” the DIA said. “By the late 2020s, China may have commercialized space-based directed energy systems that can threaten high-orbit satellites, as well as higher-power ground-based directed energy systems.”
The DIA also noted China’s ground-based anti-satellite missile tests and its historic demonstration last year of satellite refueling in geostationary orbit, about 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above the equator. No other country has accomplished satellite refueling above low Earth orbit. China has also experimented with a robotic arm capable of hooking spacecraft out of orbit and continues to operate a constellation of satellites known as TJS, which periodically fly by foreign spacecraft.
US and Russian orbital weapons programs
The US Space Force also operates a fleet of surveillance satellites in geostationary orbit. It recently acquired additional satellites that can be refueled and overcome maneuverability limitations. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced last month that the Pentagon is deploying weapons in space, making the United States the first country to acknowledge that it has orbital weapons.
US intelligence officials say Russia is pursuing its own orbital warfare program, including ambitions to deploy nuclear weapons in space.
A more conventional Russian weapons system, known as Niverir, is designed to fire a projectile from one satellite and crash it into another. The Russian military simulated an attack using the Niverir system in 2020.
In April, Russia launched a group of small satellites into orbit near an ICEYE-owned commercial radar remote-sensing satellite that provides reconnaissance imagery to Ukraine. Earlier this month, one of the Russian satellites moved to within “tens of meters” of the ICEYE spacecraft before retreating, according to US officials.
Source: arstechnica.com
