China has begun conducting "air battles" between satellites in low Earth orbit as part of expanding its capabilities in space, said General Michael Gatlin, deputy chief of US space operations.
According to him, China and russia are closing the technological gap in the field of space technology.
According to the US Space Force, announced at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Arlington, "five objects were observed in orbit, maneuvering around each other in a synchronous and controlled manner."
"This is what we call air battles in space. China is practicing tactics, methods and procedures for conducting space operations in orbit with the interaction of several satellites," Gatlin said, specifying that these operations were recorded using commercially available information.
The “air combat” incident, to which the Space Force official referred, is related to a series of Chinese maneuvers in 2024 involving the Shiyan-24°C and Shijian-6 05A/B experimental satellites in low Earth orbit.
Such technologies, CNN writes, could allow China to destroy satellites or disable them, potentially allowing it to disrupt communications or operations of enemy military forces, such as launching and detecting missiles. Such actions could also harm global navigation systems - from banking transactions to calling a medical ambulance.
Deputy Chief of US Space Operations General Michael Gatlin testifies before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Photo: Eric R. Dietrich.
Responding to questions about China and russia, Gatlin noted that these countries have developed “exceptional” capabilities. He cited the use of jamming to disrupt satellite signals, the ability to blind reconnaissance satellites with lasers, and maneuvers involving capturing a satellite and reorbiting it.
He called it “the most challenging strategic situation” in a long time, or even in history.
“There used to be a gap between us and our closest “colleagues”, largely driven by U.S. technological progress… that gap in capability has narrowed significantly,” he said.
Maneuvering alongside other satellites could be evidence of “the development of anti-space weapons,” said Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Space Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
Coming close to another satellite, he said, means “you could potentially capture it, launch a net or a projectile at it, or use an energy weapon like a laser or a jammer.”
But such maneuvers could also be used for refueling or maintenance, as well as for photographing objects, the expert said. He added that China is launching "more and more satellites that demonstrate the ability to perform complex maneuvers."
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