US intelligence worries about Russia and China's satellite-destroying capabilities

"Russia and China are developing a variety of means to exploit US dependence on space-based systems and challenge US dominance in this area. They have developed a range of anti-satellite weapon systems, including electronic warfare systems, directed energy weapons and anti-satellite missiles,"CNNFebruary 12, citing a report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The DIA believes that China could field ground-based laser weapons capable of destroying low-orbit satellite sensors by 2020, followed by high-power systems that threaten satellites without optical sensors by the mid-2020s. "China likely has some capability to use laser weapons against satellite sensors," the DIA report stressed.

US defense intelligence also believes that Russia delivered a laser weapon system to the Aerospace Force before July 2018, likely for anti-satellite missions. "Russia is also developing aircraft-mounted laser weapons to disable satellite-mounted missile defense sensors."

The US military is considering equipping satellites with advanced sensors to enhance the capabilities of its missile defense systems. The emergence of these laser weapons would pose a serious threat to those sensor systems.

In addition to laser weapons, Russia’s inspection and maintenance satellites could be used to attack and cause temporary or permanent damage to other countries’ satellites. The US sent a warning to the UN when Russia launched several maintenance satellites in August 2018, but Russia rejected the idea, saying the US also has many satellites with mysterious activities.

The Chinese military currently possesses anti-satellite missile systems that can strike targets in low orbit, and it has also established anti-satellite missile units. Russia could complete development of a mobile missile system to destroy low-orbit satellites and intercept ballistic missiles in the next few years, according to the DIA report.

US satellites now play a vital role in guiding, targeting weapons and gathering intelligence on North Korea, Russia and China. Some are equipped with sensors to detect enemy missile launches.

"Russia and China are far ahead of us in the space field. We need to establish a specialized force to solve space missions. Space warfare will break out in the future," predicted Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in charge of tactical forces.