Quietly, Star Wars is in full swing. In 2022, China took the lead in space launches of military satellites, thus dethroning the United States. This is the conclusion of the report “Space Activities in 2022” (pdf) published by the Center for Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge in Massachusetts.
Last year, the United States managed a total of 72 launches out of 78, while Russia managed 21. China attempted 64 launches to achieve 62.
Disable GPS satellites
These launches put civilian and military satellites into orbit. As for those related to defense, China is in the lead with 45 orbiting posts compared to 30 for the United States and 15 for Russia. Of the 700 operational Chinese satellites, General B. Chance Saltzman, head of the US Space Force, estimates that there are now 347 dedicated to military purposes, including 35 launched in the last six months.
Listened to by a Senate committee, the official assures that these constellations would have multiple missions that range from surveillance to the destruction of space or terrestrial infrastructures.
Beijing would have lasers to attack satellites and jammers to disable GPS or communication services. One technology would even allow them to divert the trajectory of a satellite.
To destroy enemy satellites, it would have kamikaze satellites, but also Asat (anti-satellite activities), ballistic missiles modified to shoot down space targets. Their use is contrary to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty which regulates the use of weapons in outer space. Only four countries have already tested this ammunition: the United States, China, Russia and India. In 2021, a Pentagon report already claimed that Beijing has an anti-satellite arsenal that threatens those in low orbit.
US services have already detected hostile maneuvers by China. China’s TJS-3 satellite, launched in 2018, drifted along the geostationary belt, stopping to first take a close look at the US satellites, USA 233 and 298. Dedicated to military communications, they provide intelligence not only in the United States United States, but also in the United States. United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia.
Russia: an “acute” threat
According to General Saltzman, China represents “the most immediate threat.” He also mentions Russian space resources. Less efficient than China’s, they would pose “an acute threat” of attack or disruption to US satellites.
He claims that China and Russia “intend to target potential US vulnerabilities to eliminate the US advantage in space,” General Saltzman told the senators.
To maintain America’s space superiority, General Saltzman calls for a budget of $30 billion by 2024, an increase of nearly $4 billion from 2023. “Faced with China, we must maintain a technological advantage and be able to defend our vital interests”. Saltzman added in his statement.
Source: BFM TV
