Latest news with #Shiyan-24C
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Space Force Says a Chinese Spacecraft Is Practicing Dogfighting Maneuvers in Orbit
The US Space Force has accused China of "dogfighting in space," a term that usually refers to fighter jets caught up in an aerial, close-range battle. During a defense program conference this week, Space Force vice chief of space operations Michael Guetlein said that the military arm had observed "five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchrony and in control," as quoted by Defense One. The Space Force is "starting to see our near-peers focusing on practicing dogfighting in space with satellite-on-satellite," he said. If confirmed, the practice could indicate an escalation in the defensive military capabilities of world powers in orbit, highlighting a heating up "space arms race." As Defense One reports, Guetlein's comments were referring to maneuvers made by three experimental Chinese satellites — called Shiyan-24C, as well as two still unidentified space objects dubbed Shijian-605 A and B — last year. At the time, the Space Force observed the objects carrying out a "series of proximity operations" in low-Earth orbit, according to Guetlein. The Shijian-6 system is believed to be capable of "electronic intelligence" allowing satellites to eavesdrop on communications, including naval comms traffic. "They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another," Guetlein said. The Space Force general said that the satellites are just one of several activities of US adversaries in space, including Russia's "nesting doll," satellite demonstration in 2019, which involved smaller spacecraft closely following the movement of US satellites. China has similarly been accused of having its satellites "zigzag" across different altitudes and come uncomfortably close to US satellites. Guetlein accused Russia and China of breaking internationally agreed-upon rules. "Unfortunately, our current adversaries are willing to go against international norms of behavior, go against that gentleman's agreement, and they're willing to do it in very unsafe and unprofessional manners," he said, as quoted by Defense One. As a result, Guetlein argued there was a growing "capability gap" between the US and its adversaries, which could end up putting the country's assets at risk and allow other countries to claim control over the space domain. "We're only going to be as good as the amount of resources that we're willing to put towards space superiority," he said at the event this week. More on satellite-on-satellite action: China Joins SpaceX in Ruining Astronomy for Everybody
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China is testing experimental 'dogfighting' satellites in space, US general says
China is testing satellites that can perform complex space maneuvers, a US general said this week. He said they'd observed 5 objects maneuvering around each other in synchronicity and control. The rivalry between the US and China is heating up in areas of technology and global influence. China is testing experimental satellites capable of performing complex coordinated space maneuvers, a US Space Force general said this week. "With our commercial assets, we have observed five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchronicity and in control," Gen. Michael Guetlein, the vice chief of space operations, said at a McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. He described it as "dogfighting." The USSF later clarified that Guetlein was referring to three Chinese Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Shijian-6 05A/B experimental space objects that had been seen carrying out complex maneuvers in low Earth orbit. While dogfighting typically refers to high-speed maneuvers performed in close-range aerial battles, Gueltein said that "what we call dogfighting in space. They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another." China's experimental Shiyan satellite program has long been the source of speculation, especially as the country's rivalry with the US grows in areas of technology and global influence. After the launch of three Shiyan satellites in 2022, Chinese state media reported that they were being used for "space environment monitoring." But some Western military officials and experts believe they're being deployed to test military capabilities, such as grappling with other satellites in space. "Their proximity to sensitive targets alludes to more sinister intentions," Nicholas Deschenes, a US Army captain, wrote in the English Military Review in 2019, after Shiyans were detected near US satellites. Deschenes said that one model's robotic arm could be used to manipulate or attack other satellites. Clayton Swope, a senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said there was a "clear trend" of China deploying satellites to conduct sophisticated space maneuvers. "We don't publicly have much concrete evidence about their purposes other than to say these satellites are probably testing out new technologies," Swope told Business Insider, adding: "Many likely have a surveillance purpose but could also be testing out capabilities that could be used for anti-satellite weapons." He said the incidents highlighted the need for a treaty to spell out what was acceptable behavior in space, to avoid the risk of accidental conflict. "Both the United States and China should want such an agreement," Swope said, "as it would go a long way to ensure that a misunderstanding of intentions and actions in space does not spiral out of control." Read the original article on Business Insider
CNN
21-03-2025
- Science
- CNN
China is practicing ‘dogfighting' with satellites as it ramps up space capabilities: US Space Force
China is practicing 'dogfighting' satellites as part of its expanding capabilities in space, according to the United States Space Force, which warned that Washington's key rivals are closing the technology gap as space becomes increasingly critical to security on Earth. The Space Force observed 'five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchronicity and in control,' its vice chief of space operations Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said Tuesday at a defense conference. 'That's what we call dogfighting in space. They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another,' Guetlein said, using a term that typically refers to close-range aerial combat between fighter jets. Guetlein referred to the US' 'near peers' as practicing these on-orbit maneuvers during remarks at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Arlington, Virginia. A US Space Force spokesperson later confirmed to CNN that Guetlein was referring to operations conducted by China, which were observed via commercially available information. While the purpose of such operations was not clear – and some experts question the use of the term – Guetlein's comments come as analysts say a growing number of countries, including China, have sought to develop counterspace technologies. Such capabilities could enable a country to destroy or disable satellites, potentially allowing them to interrupt a rival military's communications or operations like launching and detecting missiles. Such interference could also wreak havoc on global navigation systems used for everything from banking and cargo shipping to ambulance dispatch. The US has been closely watching China's rapid rise as a space power in recent decades, not only through its ambitious lunar and deep-space exploration programs, but also what analysts describe as its deepening counterspace capabilities. In response to a question about China and Russia, Guetlein said they had developed 'exquisite' capabilities. He cited the deployment of jammers to disrupt satellite signals, the ability to dazzle intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance satellites with lasers, as well as maneuvers involving grappling with a satellite and towing it to a different orbit. 'This is the most complex and challenging strategic environment that we have seen in a long time, if not ever,' Guetlein said, adding that the force needs 'capabilities to deter and, if necessary, defeat aggression' to 'guarantee that the advantage is in our favor' into the future. 'There used to be a capability gap between us and our near peers, mainly driven by the technological advancement of the United States … that capability gap has significantly narrowed,' he said. The 'dogfighting' incident referenced by Guetlein involved a series of Chinese satellite maneuvers in 2024 in low Earth orbit involving three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Chinese experimental space objects, the Shijian-6 05A/B, a Space Force spokesperson said. Beijing has released little public information about its experimental satellites and such operations. The country included safeguarding its 'security interests in outer space' among its national defense goals in a 2019 white paper but has long said it stands 'for the peaceful use of outer space' and opposes an arms race there. CNN has reached out to China's Ministry of Defense and State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense for comment. Given the physical dynamics in space, the maneuvers described by Guetlein as 'dogfighting' would look very different from those in the air between fighter jets, in this case involving satellites maneuvering around one another using propellant, experts say. Analysts have long been closely monitoring interactions between satellites and other objects in space. Typically referred to as 'rendezvous and proximity operations,' these maneuvers can be used for peaceful operations like satellite maintenance or clearing debris – but could also allow countries to interfere with adversaries' assets. 'Close maneuvering around other satellites could suggest the development of a counterspace weapon because getting close to another satellite means you could potentially grab it, launch a net or projectile at it, or use an energy weapon, like a laser or jammer,' said Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. 'But getting close to another satellite might also suggest other purposes, like in-space servicing or refueling. It could also be one satellite trying to take a picture of the other one,' he said, adding that China is launching 'more and more satellites that demonstrate the ability to conduct sophisticated maneuvers.' 'We don't really know for sure, at least not publicly, what any of these satellites are up to, but some are probably doing surveillance and also testing out new space technologies that could be used as counterspace weapons,' Swope added. There is no confirmed public evidence of China using counterspace capabilities against any military targets, the independent US-based Secure World Foundation said in an annual report on countries' counterspace capabilities last year. China has undertaken similar rendezvous and proximity operations to those referenced by Guetlein in the past, but this incident appears to have involved more satellites than others, Victoria Samson, SWF's chief director of space security and stability, told CNN. Russia and the US are also known to conduct proximity operations to their own and other satellites, she added. 'It's hard to say if this Chinese capability is something that the US doesn't have since we're learning about it from US commercial SSA (space situational awareness) companies, who are generally reluctant to discuss what US satellites are up to,' she said. Referring to China's operations as 'dogfighting' in space is 'not helpful' because it 'automatically ascribes hostile intentions to activities that frankly the US also undertakes,' Samson added. Currently, the US doesn't have an acknowledged operational program to target satellites from within orbit using other satellites or spacecraft, though it could likely quickly field one in the future, according to SWF's annual report. That's because the US has done extensive 'non-offensive' testing of technologies to approach and rendezvous with satellites, including close approaches of its own military satellites and several Russian and Chinese military satellites, the foundation said.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China is practicing ‘dogfighting' with satellites as it ramps up space capabilities: US Space Force
China is practicing 'dogfighting' satellites as part of its expanding capabilities in space, according to the United States Space Force, which warned that Washington's key rivals are closing the technology gap as space becomes increasingly critical to security on Earth. The Space Force observed 'five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchronicity and in control,' its vice chief of space operations Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said Tuesday at a defense conference. 'That's what we call dogfighting in space. They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another,' Guetlein said, using a term that typically refers to close-range aerial combat between fighter jets. Guetlein referred to the US' 'near peers' as practicing these on-orbit maneuvers during remarks at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Arlington, Virginia. A US Space Force spokesperson later confirmed to CNN that Guetlein was referring to operations conducted by China, which were observed via commercially available information. While the purpose of such operations was not clear – and some experts question the use of the term – Guetlein's comments come as analysts say a growing number of countries, including China, have sought to develop counterspace technologies. Such capabilities could enable a country to destroy or disable satellites, potentially allowing them to interrupt a rival military's communications or operations like launching and detecting missiles. Such interference could also wreak havoc on global navigation systems used for everything from banking and cargo shipping to ambulance dispatch. The US has been closely watching China's rapid rise as a space power in recent decades, not only through its ambitious lunar and deep-space exploration programs, but also what analysts describe as its deepening counterspace capabilities. In response to a question about China and Russia, Guetlein said they had developed 'exquisite' capabilities. He cited the deployment of jammers to disrupt satellite signals, the ability to dazzle intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance satellites with lasers, as well as maneuvers involving grappling with a satellite and towing it to a different orbit. 'This is the most complex and challenging strategic environment that we have seen in a long time, if not ever,' Guetlein said, adding that the force needs 'capabilities to deter and, if necessary, defeat aggression' to 'guarantee that the advantage is in our favor' into the future. 'There used to be a capability gap between us and our near peers, mainly driven by the technological advancement of the United States … that capability gap has significantly narrowed,' he said. The 'dogfighting' incident referenced by Guetlein involved a series of Chinese satellite maneuvers in 2024 in low Earth orbit involving three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Chinese experimental space objects, the Shijian-6 05A/B, a Space Force spokesperson said. Beijing has released little public information about its experimental satellites and such operations. The country included safeguarding its 'security interests in outer space' among its national defense goals in a 2019 white paper but has long said it stands 'for the peaceful use of outer space' and opposes an arms race there. CNN has reached out to China's Ministry of Defense and State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense for comment. Given the physical dynamics in space, the maneuvers described by Guetlein as 'dogfighting' would look very different from those in the air between fighter jets, in this case involving satellites maneuvering around one another using propellant, experts say. Analysts have long been closely monitoring interactions between satellites and other objects in space. Typically referred to as 'rendezvous and proximity operations,' these maneuvers can be used for peaceful operations like satellite maintenance or clearing debris – but could also allow countries to interfere with adversaries' assets. 'Close maneuvering around other satellites could suggest the development of a counterspace weapon because getting close to another satellite means you could potentially grab it, launch a net or projectile at it, or use an energy weapon, like a laser or jammer,' said Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. 'But getting close to another satellite might also suggest other purposes, like in-space servicing or refueling. It could also be one satellite trying to take a picture of the other one,' he said, adding that China is launching 'more and more satellites that demonstrate the ability to conduct sophisticated maneuvers.' 'We don't really know for sure, at least not publicly, what any of these satellites are up to, but some are probably doing surveillance and also testing out new space technologies that could be used as counterspace weapons,' Swope added. There is no confirmed public evidence of China using counterspace capabilities against any military targets, the independent US-based Secure World Foundation said in an annual report on countries' counterspace capabilities last year. China has undertaken similar rendezvous and proximity operations to those referenced by Guetlein in the past, but this incident appears to have involved more satellites than others, Victoria Samson, SWF's chief director of space security and stability, told CNN. Russia and the US are also known to conduct proximity operations to their own and other satellites, she added. 'It's hard to say if this Chinese capability is something that the US doesn't have since we're learning about it from US commercial SSA (space situational awareness) companies, who are generally reluctant to discuss what US satellites are up to,' she said. Referring to China's operations as 'dogfighting' in space is 'not helpful' because it 'automatically ascribes hostile intentions to activities that frankly the US also undertakes,' Samson added. Currently, the US doesn't have an acknowledged operational program to target satellites from within orbit using other satellites or spacecraft, though it could likely quickly field one in the future, according to SWF's annual report. That's because the US has done extensive 'non-offensive' testing of technologies to approach and rendezvous with satellites, including close approaches of its own military satellites and several Russian and Chinese military satellites, the foundation said.
CNN
21-03-2025
- Science
- CNN
China is practicing ‘dogfighting' with satellites as it ramps up space capabilities: US Space Force
China is practicing 'dogfighting' satellites as part of its expanding capabilities in space, according to the United States Space Force, which warned that Washington's key rivals are closing the technology gap as space becomes increasingly critical to security on Earth. The Space Force observed 'five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchronicity and in control,' its vice chief of space operations Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said Tuesday at a defense conference. 'That's what we call dogfighting in space. They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another,' Guetlein said, using a term that typically refers to close-range aerial combat between fighter jets. Guetlein referred to the US' 'near peers' as practicing these on-orbit maneuvers during remarks at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Arlington, Virginia. A US Space Force spokesperson later confirmed to CNN that Guetlein was referring to operations conducted by China, which were observed via commercially available information. While the purpose of such operations was not clear – and some experts question the use of the term – Guetlein's comments come as analysts say a growing number of countries, including China, have sought to develop counterspace technologies. Such capabilities could enable a country to destroy or disable satellites, potentially allowing them to interrupt a rival military's communications or operations like launching and detecting missiles. Such interference could also wreak havoc on global navigation systems used for everything from banking and cargo shipping to ambulance dispatch. The US has been closely watching China's rapid rise as a space power in recent decades, not only through its ambitious lunar and deep-space exploration programs, but also what analysts describe as its deepening counterspace capabilities. In response to a question about China and Russia, Guetlein said they had developed 'exquisite' capabilities. He cited the deployment of jammers to disrupt satellite signals, the ability to dazzle intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance satellites with lasers, as well as maneuvers involving grappling with a satellite and towing it to a different orbit. 'This is the most complex and challenging strategic environment that we have seen in a long time, if not ever,' Guetlein said, adding that the force needs 'capabilities to deter and, if necessary, defeat aggression' to 'guarantee that the advantage is in our favor' into the future. 'There used to be a capability gap between us and our near peers, mainly driven by the technological advancement of the United States … that capability gap has significantly narrowed,' he said. The 'dogfighting' incident referenced by Guetlein involved a series of Chinese satellite maneuvers in 2024 in low Earth orbit involving three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Chinese experimental space objects, the Shijian-6 05A/B, a Space Force spokesperson said. Beijing has released little public information about its experimental satellites and such operations. The country included safeguarding its 'security interests in outer space' among its national defense goals in a 2019 white paper but has long said it stands 'for the peaceful use of outer space' and opposes an arms race there. CNN has reached out to China's Ministry of Defense and State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense for comment. Given the physical dynamics in space, the maneuvers described by Guetlein as 'dogfighting' would look very different from those in the air between fighter jets, in this case involving satellites maneuvering around one another using propellant, experts say. Analysts have long been closely monitoring interactions between satellites and other objects in space. Typically referred to as 'rendezvous and proximity operations,' these maneuvers can be used for peaceful operations like satellite maintenance or clearing debris – but could also allow countries to interfere with adversaries' assets. 'Close maneuvering around other satellites could suggest the development of a counterspace weapon because getting close to another satellite means you could potentially grab it, launch a net or projectile at it, or use an energy weapon, like a laser or jammer,' said Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. 'But getting close to another satellite might also suggest other purposes, like in-space servicing or refueling. It could also be one satellite trying to take a picture of the other one,' he said, adding that China is launching 'more and more satellites that demonstrate the ability to conduct sophisticated maneuvers.' 'We don't really know for sure, at least not publicly, what any of these satellites are up to, but some are probably doing surveillance and also testing out new space technologies that could be used as counterspace weapons,' Swope added. There is no confirmed public evidence of China using counterspace capabilities against any military targets, the independent US-based Secure World Foundation said in an annual report on countries' counterspace capabilities last year. China has undertaken similar rendezvous and proximity operations to those referenced by Guetlein in the past, but this incident appears to have involved more satellites than others, Victoria Samson, SWF's chief director of space security and stability, told CNN. Russia and the US are also known to conduct proximity operations to their own and other satellites, she added. 'It's hard to say if this Chinese capability is something that the US doesn't have since we're learning about it from US commercial SSA (space situational awareness) companies, who are generally reluctant to discuss what US satellites are up to,' she said. Referring to China's operations as 'dogfighting' in space is 'not helpful' because it 'automatically ascribes hostile intentions to activities that frankly the US also undertakes,' Samson added. Currently, the US doesn't have an acknowledged operational program to target satellites from within orbit using other satellites or spacecraft, though it could likely quickly field one in the future, according to SWF's annual report. That's because the US has done extensive 'non-offensive' testing of technologies to approach and rendezvous with satellites, including close approaches of its own military satellites and several Russian and Chinese military satellites, the foundation said.
