China and Russia are developing missiles, lasers, and other weapons that will soon be able to damage or destroy U.S. satellites in low-earth orbit, according to the Pentagon’s Joint Staff report.
China and Russia can pose a threat to low-orbit satellites in the next several years and the capability can be in place by 2020, the officials said.
“We assess that Russia and China perceive a need to offset any U.S. military advantage derived from military, civil, or commercial space systems and are increasingly considering attacks against satellite systems as part of their future warfare doctrine,” he said. “Both will continue to pursue a full range of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons as a means to reduce U.S. military effectiveness.”
While Russia and China develop anti-satellite weapons, “publicly and diplomatically” they are promoting “non-weaponization of space and ‘no first placement’ of weapons in space,” Coats said.
Both Russia and China are developing missiles capable of striking low-orbit satellites.
“Russian lawmakers have promoted military pursuit of ASAT missiles to strike low-Earth orbiting satellites, and Russia is testing such a weapon for eventual deployment,” Coats said. “A Russian official also acknowledged development of an aircraft-launched missile capable of destroying satellites in low-Earth orbit.”
China already shot down one of its satellites a decade ago, but now “its ground-launched ASAT missiles might be nearing operational service within the PLA [People’s Liberation Army],” he said.
Both countries are also advancing technologies to blind or damage satellites’ optical sensors by directed energy weapons, such as lasers. “Russia is developing an airborne laser weapon for use against U.S. satellites,” Coats said.
Both countries are also developing technologies that can be used to damage or destroy satellites by other satellites.
“For instance, space robotic technology research for satellite servicing and debris-removal might be used to damage satellites,” Coats said. “Such missions will pose a particular challenge In the future, complicating the U.S. ability to characterize the space environment, decipher intent of space activity, and provide advance threat warning.”
