Space Force chief warns China anti-satellite capabilities are major threat to US
The United States is facing a significant challenge in space as China continues to make explosive advances in its space capabilities. General Chance Saltzman of the Space Force recently testified before the U.S.-China Commission, describing China’s heavy investments in ground-based and space-based weapons designed to disable enemy satellites. These weapons include kinetic strikes, radio-frequency jamming, and directed energy weapons.
Saltzman warned that the U.S. is on a path to losing its dominance in orbit, as China has significantly increased its military spending and stockpiled anti-satellite missiles. China claims to possess directed energy weapons that can jam satellite signals, posing a significant threat to U.S. assets in space. The general also highlighted the risk of a global catastrophe if China were to destroy a satellite in orbit, pointing to debris from previous anti-satellite missile tests.
China’s space-based targeting capabilities have grown impressively in recent years, with hundreds of satellites dedicated to tracking U.S. assets in orbit. This expansion has led to a new mission for the Space Force: denying China the ability to surveil American satellites in real-time. However, Saltzman expressed concern that the U.S. is falling behind in space capabilities, as the Space Force budget has shrunk and lawmakers still prioritize other military domains over space.
One of the key areas where China is outpacing the U.S. is in quantum satellites, which enable ultra-secure communications and advanced navigational technologies. While China has operational quantum satellites, the U.S. does not. Saltzman also highlighted China’s investments in long-range precision strikes and reusable launch vehicles, which could result in China overtaking U.S. leadership in space.
Recent observations by the Space Force have shown that China is practicing satellite “dogfighting,” demonstrating its ability to conduct complex operations in orbit. This includes maneuvering multiple objects in space in synchronicity and control, a concerning development for U.S. space dominance.
As China continues to make significant strides in space, the U.S. faces the challenge of keeping pace and maintaining its position as a leader in orbit. The Space Force must address its funding limitations and focus on developing the capabilities needed to counter growing Chinese aggression in space. Failure to do so could have serious implications for U.S. national security and military objectives in the future.
