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India.com
an hour ago
- Science
- India.com
Meet Satellite-Killer Laser Crystal: Gamechanger weapon developed by China for in Space Warfare, Trump now plans to..., US satellites to...
Beijing: China has reportedly developed the world's most powerful laser crystal weapon designed to blind enemy satellites in space. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Chinese scientists have discovered the world's largest barium gallium selenide (BGSe) crystal. This technology uses a crystal to disable the functioning of satellites. Professor Wu Haixin and his team are working on the technology at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science. The crystal, a 60-millimeter diameter synthetic structure, can convert short-wave infrared light into mid- and far-infrared beams. It can withstand laser intensities of up to 550 megawatts per square centimeter, which is the highest tolerance compared to any crystal developed so far. How will the latest technology help China? The step will take China a step forward in establishing dominance in space by developing laser crystals. With this technology, it could potentially blind America's low-Earth orbit satellites. For context, the United States has deployed hundreds of satellites in low-Earth orbit for surveillance, allowing it to monitor every inch of the Earth. In the event of war, China could easily neutralize these satellites, giving its military forces on the ground a strategic advantage. Chinese experts claim that these crystals could also be used in infrared sensors, missile tracking, and the medical field. China Claims Development of Anti-Satellite Laser Crystals China has planned to spend in operational infrastructure to expand and strengthen its anti-satellite (ASAT) technology, according to the reports. China has built facilities at secret locations in Korla and Bohu in the Xinjiang province. These are key sites for its ground-based ASAT program, aimed at blinding or disabling foreign satellites to conceal sensitive military assets. Ground-based laser systems have been deployed at both locations. The report states that the purpose of operating these systems is to 'blind' the American ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) network. General Bradley Saltzman, during a hearing of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USSC) in April 2025, mentioned that China's ground-based lasers are intended to target critical space-based ISR assets, potentially leaving the U.S. military 'blind and deaf.'
AllAfrica
2 days ago
- Science
- AllAfrica
Crystal clear: China sharpening its anti-satellite laser edge
China is using crystals to enhance the power of satellite-destroying lasers in a daring attempt to blind US satellites and gain strategic superiority in space warfare. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Chinese scientists have revealed the world's largest barium gallium selenide (BGSe) crystal. The 60-millimeter-diameter synthetic crystal, developed by a team led by Professor Wu Haixin at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, can reputedly convert short-wave infrared into long-range mid- to far-infrared beams while withstanding laser intensities of up to 550 megawatts per square centimeter. That's an order of magnitude greater than current military-grade crystals. The milestone addresses a long-standing challenge in laser weaponry: self-inflicted damage caused by high-power output, which was notably demonstrated by the US Navy's unsuccessful 1997 MIRACL satellite test. First discovered in 2010, BGSe initially stunned global researchers but proved difficult to scale outside China. Wu's team achieved success through meticulous manufacturing—vacuum-sealing ultra-pure materials, month-long crystal growth in dual-zone furnaces, defect-eliminating annealing and precision polishing. The effort aligns with China's accelerated pursuit of laser weapons, driven by strategic concerns over Starlink's military applications and space-based assets. While intended for military use, the crystal also holds promise for infrared sensors, missile tracking and medical imaging. Since 2020, the material has been integrated into advanced R&D programs, highlighting China's growing capabilities in laser warfare and advanced photonic materials. This development highlights China's effort to weaken US space dominance across all orbital regimes, pushing a shift toward scalable, deniable, layered counterspace tactics, system confrontation doctrines and non-kinetic warfare. These are enabled by US deterrent gaps marked by ambiguous signaling, reliance on resilience denial and limited punishment options. China is also investing heavily in operational infrastructure to support these technological advances. Asia Times has previously reported on its secretive Korla and Bohu sites in Xinjiang, which are key parts of its ground-based anti-satellite (ASAT) program aimed at dazzling or disabling foreign satellites to conceal sensitive military assets. Satellite imagery from BlackSky reveals that Korla hosts large laser systems in retractable-roof hangars that activate when foreign imaging satellites are overhead. The Bohu site reportedly contains fixed and mobile truck-mounted lasers for satellite ranging and dazzling. US officials have taken notice. General Bradley Saltzman mentioned in an April 2025 US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USSC) hearing that China's ground-based lasers are intended to 'blind and deafen' US forces by targeting critical space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets. Independent analysts have weighed the operational implications of such a shift. While these systems are currently effective against satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Chinese research suggests aspirations to extend engagement ranges to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), potentially threatening navigation and communication assets, Victoria Samson and Laetitia Cesari mention in a June 2025 Secure World Foundation (SWF) report. That ambition is raised in other assessments. Jonas Berge and Henrik Hiim mention in an August 2024 article in the peer-reviewed Journal of Strategic Studies that Chinese analysts see the US Global Positioning System (GPS) and Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) as key asymmetric vulnerabilities and potential counterspace targets, but for distinct reasons. According to Berge and Hiim, GPS, composed of satellites in MEO, underpins US precision warfare and is viewed as ripe for soft-kill attacks—particularly jamming and cyber operations—which are low-risk, rapidly reversible and hard to attribute. In contrast, they say SBIRS satellites in GEO are central to the US nuclear early warning system. They note that while China seeks the ability to hold SBIRS at risk to ensure its second-strike capability, it acknowledges that attacking it could trigger nuclear escalation. However, China may face considerable challenges in countering modern space architectures in practice. Howard Wang and other writers mention in a March 2025 RAND report that Chinese military writings acknowledge the 'whack-a-mole' dilemma posed by resilient LEO satellite constellations, noting that disabling a proliferated constellation demands neutralizing dozens or hundreds of satellites to achieve the same operational effect as targeting a single high-value system. Wang and others say that People's Liberation Army (PLA) analysts advocate a multifaceted counterstrategy combining electronic warfare, cyberattacks and directed-energy weapons such as ground-based lasers. They note that these non-kinetic tools are viewed as scalable, cost-effective and deniable means to degrade satellite function en masse without overt escalation. According to Wang and others, this integrated approach reflects China's shift toward more adaptive and asymmetric counterspace operations aimed at overwhelming resilient US space architectures. The doctrinal logic behind this approach has been thoroughly studied. Mark Cozad and other writers mention in a 2022 RAND report that China's ground-based ASAT lasers and other such weapons are tools that directly support its doctrines of systems confrontation and systems destruction warfare. According to Cozad and others, systems confrontation and systems destruction warfare are foundational to China's military thinking, viewing future conflict as contests between rival operational systems rather than force-on-force engagements. They mention that systems confrontation emphasizes the interdependence of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) components, where paralyzing key nodes—particularly space-based ISR—can unravel an adversary's operational cohesion. Yet while China appears to be moving aggressively, the US posture may be enabling this momentum. Dennis Rice argues in a 2023 Air University paper that the US faces serious deterrence gaps in space, particularly against China. Rice says that the US's overemphasis on denial by resilience fails to evoke the fear necessary for deterrence by punishment, weakening its ability to dissuade adversaries. He notes that ambiguity in US signaling—balancing militarization with restraint—can make it appear risk-averse, especially given its greater reliance on space assets. Such a perceived vulnerability, he says, could incentivize China to strike first. He adds that deterrence by denial alone is insufficient, advocating for a complementary posture that includes credible, observable threats to impose costs. Other observers of Chinese military space doctrine echo this concern. Kevin Pollpeter and other writers argue in a May 2025 China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) report that deterring China from attacking US space assets is increasingly difficult due to the unique characteristics of the space domain and the latter's strategic worldview of it as a 'new commanding height of war.' Pollpeter and others identify ten key factors that affect deterrence but find that only two—the global military balance and China's growing dependence on space—favor the US. They note that most other factors, including the offense-dominant nature of space, ambiguous signaling, asymmetric space reliance and weak international norms, undermine effective deterrence. Overall, these trends suggest that China's advancements in directed-energy weapons—driven by breakthroughs like the BGSe crystal—are part of a strategic plan rather than isolated successes. If the US doesn't respond with a stronger, more coordinated deterrent, it could find itself increasingly at a disadvantage in a domain it has long dominated.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
India's peacock parade: a march into regional instability
Listen to article The national bird of India is the peacock, a majestic animal known for its dazzling display of feathers. It is a grandiose symbol of beauty and prestige. India's strategic arsenal seems to be following the same ideology of the peacock, putting on a dazzling display in order to solidify its place in the global pecking order. However, this form of showboating serves as a harrowing and dangerous precedent for the South Asian region. It reflects a country, prioritising prestige over its national security demands which can create a security dilemma for the region and the world at large. India's initial drive towards nuclear weapons followed a path of minimum deterrence, with India even opting for a No-First Use (NFU) policy as soon as it conducted its nuclear tests in 1998. India has maintained that China and Pakistan are its key security concerns and for that reason, it has developed nuclear weapons. However, considering India's trajectory of strategic arsenal developments, it no longer seems the case. It appears that India has evolved its threat matrix to other global actors as well. At least, that is what these developments indicate. India has joined multiple exclusive clubs in the recent years. It is now one of the few countries that possess Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons and hypersonic missiles as well. Through programmes such as Agni, India is also adding additional strategic capabilities to its arsenal such as the ability to have Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV)-based warheads, allowing India to gain an edge in terms of its nuclear weapons delivery and extend a threatening arm to other continents. For a state that views its immediate neighborhood as threat, the development of such weapon systems does not make much strategic sense. India already has enough delivery vehicles and warheads to deter China and Pakistan. Given the geographical proximity of India's adversaries, such weapon systems pose no distinct military advantage. However, if India has global ambitions, then this makes perfect sense. In addition, India is also in the possession of hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles such as the Shaurya with a range close to 2000km. Travelling at speeds greater than Mach 7 (seven times the speed of sound), these missiles will drastically cut down the flight time to target. Development of such platforms is an indication that India may be opting for a counterforce strategy rather than the longstanding countervalue targeting. By having delivery vehicles that can evade missile defences and land decisive blows to military targets, India may consider this as a viable strategy in case of a nuclear escalation. Counterforce strategies are inherently dangerous in a strategically contested environment. Perhaps, the biggest challenge is that if a country becomes more assured of its counterforce capabilities it is more inclined to initiate a preemptive strike. An indication of this is the fact that India's longstanding NFU status has come under increased scrutiny in the recent times. Prominent Indian analysts such as Bharat Karnad and BS Nagal have been vociferously critical about India's NFU status. This idea emerges from the BJP 2014 election campaign that calls for a revision and updating of India's nuclear doctrine, indicating the ruling party's future ambitions. This is further solidified from statements of key government officials like Rajnath Singh and Manohar Parrikar. In conclusion, India's prestige-driven model of strategic ambition creates a security dilemma within the region. Backed by a nationalistic government with stated goals of doctrinal revisions, the South Asian region will remain embroiled in an arms race. The peacock's feathers may continue to shimmer in the sun, but they provide no further protection in the rain, no matter how dazzling they may be. If India truly seeks peace and respect at the international stage, it must rethink whether it wants to impress, or wants to ensure security.
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Business Standard
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
China's space militarisation moving 'breathtakingly fast': US Space Force
China's rapid militarisation of space is the most pressing concern to the United States, USSF Commander General Stephen Whiting said in an interview with military website Breaking Defence earlier this week. The US Space Force commander spoke on China's 'breathtakingly fast' advancement in satellite capabilities, counter-space weapons, and battlefield integration when asked about his most pressing concerns for the Indo-Pacific region. When asked about concerns raised by Brigadier General Anthony Mastalir, who last year highlighted China's use of space to 'complete the kill chain' as the most pressing threat in the region, Whiting confirmed that he shared those concerns. The term 'kill chain' refers to the sequence of steps involved in identifying, tracking and striking a target. In the space domain, this may refer to the integration of satellites, surveillance systems, communication links and weapon platforms, which would work together to detect a threat and deliver a coordinated response. "China has built a targeting system based in space to find, fix, track and target US and allied forces in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility," Whiting told Breaking Defence. US' areas of concerns Whiting highlighted three key areas of concern. First, he said China has developed a robust space-based targeting network capable of locating, tracking, and engaging American and allied assets, including aircraft carriers, with precision. These capabilities, Whiting warned, support 'over-the-horizon' strikes, effectively closing the distance between Chinese weapon systems and faraway targets. The second area of concern, Whiting said, is China's deployment of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons. These include both "soft kill" methods, such as cyberattacks, jamming of satellite communications and GPS, and 'hard kill' options like high-energy lasers and direct-ascent missiles. Co-orbital ASATs, which are satellites that manoeuvre close to others in orbit to disable or destroy them, also form part of Beijing's growing arsenal. Thirdly, the general warned of China's effective integration of space technology into its armed forces, which has enhanced the precision and range of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Navy and Air Force. 'They have leveraged all the advantages of space to make their military more lethal, more precise and more far-ranging,' he said. The comments follow the recent Operation Midnight Hammer, in which US military satellites played a crucial role in strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the space-based systems provided pre-strike imagery, guided munitions, supported radio-silent missions, and tracked incoming retaliation from Tehran.
India.com
22-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
These Four Countries Ready For War In Space, And They Have Already Shot Down Satellites
New Delhi: After dominating land and sea, the world's military focus is now shifting upwards – toward space. What was once the realm of science, communication and exploration is now quietly turning into the next frontier of warfare. A handful of countries are not only building space surveillance networks and deploying military satellites, but also preparing for possible battles by developing and testing weapons that can destroy enemy satellites. Here's a closer look at the four countries that have already demonstrated their ability to strike in space by deliberately destroying their own satellites, sending a signal to the rest of the world. United States The United States was the first to show the world what an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon could do. Back in 1985, the U.S. Air Force used an F-15 fighter jet to launch a missile that successfully destroyed one of its own satellites. Since then, the United States has built the largest and most sophisticated network of GPS, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites in orbit. Washington's space capabilities are unmatched in terms of both quantity and precision. Russia Russia, once a space pioneer as part of the former Soviet Union, continues to remain a major force in the militarisation of space. Over the years, it has conducted several low-profile ASAT tests. In December 2021, the United States accused Russia of destroying one of its own satellites using an ASAT missile, which resulted in a massive cloud of debris – threatening other satellites and the International Space Station. That incident raised global alarms about the growing dangers of space militarisation. China China joined the elite space warfare club in 2007 by launching a missile that destroyed one of its own defunct weather satellites in low Earth orbit. The event left behind a huge trail of space debris, drawing criticism from space agencies around the world. It also signaled Beijing's arrival as a serious space power. In the years since, China has continued to expand its military space programmes, launching dozens of military satellites and developing capabilities that could one day be used in space-based conflicts. India India's entry into the field came in March 2019, when it carried out 'Mission Shakti', a successful ASAT test that targeted and destroyed a satellite in low-Earth orbit. Carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the test put India among the few countries with demonstrable space strike capabilities. Though India has repeatedly said its intentions are peaceful and defensive, the test was a reminder of New Delhi's growing strategic edge. What This Means Space is no longer just about exploration or navigation. These demonstrations show that if tensions rise on Earth, satellites in space, critical for communication, navigation, military coordination and intelligence, could become prime targets. The four countries listed above have made it clear that they are ready to fight in space if the time comes. And they are not just testing the waters, they have already taken the shot. As technology advances and geopolitical rivalries grow more intense, the silent skies above might no longer remain so silent.
