US military officials assert that Russia and China are intensively testing new offensive capabilities in space, citing a series of satellite training exercises conducted by both nations in recent months as evidence of their intentions to militarize outer space.
Just last week, Russian satellites engaged in “attack and defend tactics,” aimed at enhancing the operational skills of their space forces, according to a US defense official.
US officials observed several Russian satellites coordinating to encircle and isolate another satellite in low-Earth orbit, illustrating their potential strategy for targeting adversary spacecraft in future conflicts, the official noted.
The defense official indicated that Russia’s objective is to deploy a nuclear weapon in space. Recent movements of Russian satellites also imply that they are actively gearing up for a possible armed confrontation in space.
“Russia aims to undermine our advantages in space and is indifferent to collateral damage,” the defense official remarked.
Last year, CNN reported on Russia’s initiative to create a space-based nuclear weapon capable of generating a massive energy wave, known as an electromagnetic pulse, which could potentially disable a significant number of commercial and government satellites.
In 2021, Russia conducted a test of an anti-satellite missile that successfully destroyed one of its own satellites, resulting in a significant debris field in space. This incident prompted astronauts aboard the International Space Station to take urgent safety measures.
Over the past year, China has engaged in similar space training exercises. In December, Beijing showcased its advanced capabilities by maneuvering several satellites in close proximity, raising alarms about possible military uses.
“They practiced attack approaches … those are advanced patrols and advanced tactics,” noted a defense official.
These co-orbital satellites possess the ability to directly target or disable other satellites, representing just one aspect of the array of technologies that China is developing. Additionally, China is working on anti-satellite missiles and directed-energy weapons that utilize lasers or comparable systems to engage other satellites.
“This is a PLA space force that’s being built, trained, and prepared to seize the ultimate high ground” from the United States, the defense official remarked.
China has already demonstrated its rapidly evolving technological capabilities in space. The successful test of a space-launched hypersonic missile in 2021 took the US by surprise, with the then top US general describing it as a “very significant technological event.”
Officials from the US Space Force are concentrating on enhancing their own offensive and defensive space capabilities to prevent either Russia or China from leveraging mobility to gain a military edge over American assets and executing a “blitzkrieg” style attack, the official added.
“Mobility can lead to breakout,” the official explained, referencing how the Germans neutralized the mobility of enemy tanks during World War II.
A defense official highlighted that the United States continues to hold a strategic edge over both Russia and China in space capabilities. However, both nations are actively developing new technologies aimed at improving their military effectiveness and reducing dependence on American innovations, as reported by the intelligence division of the US Space Force.
During his first term, Trump emphasized the establishment of the US Space Force, yet defense officials caution that the escalating competition from Russia and China remains a significant national security concern.
“The US must prepare to go beyond mere defense in outer space. Focusing solely on defense equates to a narrative of defeat,” the defense official remarked.
All three nations— the US, Russia, and China—are parties to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in space. However, with rising fears of an arms race in outer space, the treaty is increasingly viewed as outdated. In April, Russia blocked a UN Security Council resolution aimed at reaffirming the global stance against nuclear weapons in space.
China, in particular, has swiftly advanced its space capabilities, which can be utilized to monitor and target US military assets, according to officials from the US Space Force. By December 2024, China had launched over 1,060 satellites into orbit, ranking second only to the United States.
The intelligence branch of the US Space Force has assessed that Beijing anticipates space will be crucial in future conflicts, facilitating long-range precision strikes.
In December 2024, China deployed a remote sensing satellite that US Space Force officials believe could enable continuous surveillance of US and allied forces in the Pacific.
“Intelligence indicates that the People’s Liberation Army likely views counterspace operations as a strategy to deter and respond to US military involvement in regional conflicts,” stated several officials from the US Space Force.
Additionally, PLA scholars emphasize the importance of “destroying, damaging, and disrupting the enemy’s reconnaissance and communications satellites” to effectively “blind and deafen the adversary,” they noted.
In 2024, China achieved 66 successful space launches, deploying 67 satellites equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) into orbit, as reported by the US Space Force Intelligence Headquarters.
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