US space forces and reversible attacks from potential adversaries
US Space Force personnel on duty. US Department of Defense Photo
Space systems are of particular importance for the leading powers, because of which new risks appear, and a new round of confrontation begins in near-earth space. Thus, the US Space Force reports that Russia and China threaten the American satellite constellation. Almost every day they try to attack American spacecraft and use a wide range of "reversible attack" means for this.
According to new data
Recent ones news on the Russian and Chinese threats in space were published on November 30 by The Washington Post. Threats and challenges were reported from the Space Force's Deputy Commander for Space Operations, General David Thompson. He noted that such threats are constantly growing and evolving, and this can lead to the most serious consequences.
D. Thompson claims that the US Space Forces face attacks from the Russian and Chinese armies almost "every single day". In this case, we are not talking about attempts to destroy space technology, but about the so-called. reversible attacks. They are produced without the use of damaging elements and combat stages, but with the use of lasers, jamming or cyber weapons.
The purpose of such attacks is to develop new technologies for subsequent practical application. Means of jamming satellites can primarily be used to prevent reconnaissance. For example, recently, the forces of satellites with cameras on the territory of China have revealed new construction sites for positional areas of missile forces, camps for the disloyal population and other secret facilities. Lasers and electronic warfare can be used to hide such construction projects or operating facilities.
Talking about "reversible attacks", the general did not talk about possible attempts to physically damage or destroy satellites. He noted that such incidents - if they did occur - would remain secret. However, D. Thompson believes that the use of existing complexes of suppression and countermeasures can be regarded as an act of war.
General Thompson recalled recent developments in the field of space weapons, and also noted the general state of affairs in this industry. He believes that Russia and China have achieved notable success in this area. At the same time, the Chinese army is already ahead of the Russian in terms of operational capabilities, and in some issues is superior to the American one.
The GPS III navigation satellite is a strategically important product for the United States and a priority target for the enemy. Lockheed Martin Photos
According to D. Thompson's calculations, China is approximately twice as fast as the United States in terms of launching new spacecraft into orbit. A large orbital constellation is under construction with satellites for various purposes - communications, navigation, reconnaissance, etc. If the current pace is maintained, in a few years China will surpass the United States not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively.
Means of attack
General Thompson and The Washington Post also describe what means of attack Russia and China have at their disposal, which ones were used in practice, and what this led to. It is noteworthy that almost all the described incidents were previously repeatedly mentioned in the open foreign press and discussed at different levels.
It is argued that "daily" reversible attacks are carried out using the so-called. non-kinetic means. D. Thompson includes combat lasers, electronic warfare systems and cybernetic weapon... Such means prevent US satellites from conducting optical and electronic reconnaissance, and also complicate the exchange of data. Cyberattacks potentially threaten the loss of control over vehicles and ground-based components of the space system.
Russia and China are also developing means for war directly in space. These are orbiters capable of performing various maneuvers and acting on other satellites - to hit them and disable them, or capture and carry out the necessary manipulations.
In this context, General Thompson recalled the incident of 2019.Then the Russian inspector satellite changed its orbit and approached the minimum distance to the American military apparatus. After observing, he withdrew, then dropped a small target, which was then hit by a shot. Similar events in orbit have caused serious concern at the Pentagon.
Space technology with unusual capabilities is being developed in China. D. Thompson recalled the well-known projects of survey satellites equipped with a manipulator for target acquisition. Such a device will be able to forcibly change the orbit of other people's satellites or even bring them out of orbit. According to older reports, the first tests of such a satellite took place back in 2013.
The Russian military laser "Peresvet" is supposedly a means of optical suppression of reconnaissance satellites. Photo of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
General Thompson and The Washington Post only casually mention the equally dangerous Russian and Chinese developments in the form of anti-satellite missile systems. This is very interesting because just a few weeks ago, Russian testing of such a weapon not only attracted attention, but was also criticized by the American side.
Ways to protect
D. Thompson believes that at the moment the orbital group of the US Space Force is the best in the world. However, competing powers are making efforts to develop their factions, and the gap in quantity and quality is narrowing. By the end of the current decade, if no action is taken, this will create cause for serious concern.
Diplomatic measures are being taken to stabilize the situation in outer space. As reminds The Washington Post, Washington allegedly offers Beijing to negotiate and conclude agreements on the control of nuclear weapons, space systems and cyber weapons. However, China is not interested in such events, and it is unlikely that it will even come to negotiations.
This calls for practical measures. Thus, D. Thompson proposes to ensure the stability of the space constellation through fundamentally new satellites that are simple and cheap. With the help of such products, it will be possible to restore the loss of the orbital constellation relatively quickly and easily.
In addition, it is necessary to study current and future challenges and threats, as well as develop new doctrines and strategies. Combat in space is fundamentally different from war in other environments. Timely and full-fledged work in this direction will allow maintaining and increasing the desired opportunities.
The issue of secrecy
It is clear that the US Space Force will do everything possible to maintain, develop and protect its satellite constellation. At the same time, new principles for performing the necessary work are proposed, which, as expected, will get rid of possible difficulties.
Construction of missile silos in China. The new positioning areas of the PLA RV were identified precisely by satellites. Photo FAS
At the moment, almost all new projects of the Space Forces are classified as classified. This allows you to protect the work, but it makes it difficult for the Space Forces to interact with other structures and organizations. In particular, it becomes more difficult for them to "knock out" the necessary funding, and in addition, their practical potential in the context of deterrence is reduced.
The draft military budget for 2022 proposes to declassify projects of the Space Forces on time and publish at least general information about them. A review of each new program should be released within 120 days of its launch, so that the responsible persons and structures can analyze and determine whether the current level of secrecy corresponds to the real needs of the project. The supervisory authority will then decide within 90 days what level of secrecy needs to be established - or removed altogether.
This approach is expected to make the Space Force more transparent to Congress and others, as well as show taxpayers where their money is going. It will also make it easier for troops to justify their budget requests.
It is also believed that the publication of data on promising developments will attract the attention of foreign countries, incl. potential opponents. The latter will be able to find out what measures the United States is preparing and what they will have to deal with in the event of a conflict. Accordingly, the Space Forces will acquire full-fledged containment functions.
War in space
Thus, American officials once again confirm that the confrontation between the leading powers in space continues and is developing. Such processes are of serious concern to both the Space Forces and the Pentagon as a whole. The US Armed Forces are heavily dependent on the work of the satellite constellation, and any anti-satellite weapon poses a potential threat at the operational-strategic level.
To protect the orbital group and maintain all the necessary capabilities, the US Army plans to take various measures. Various concepts and projects are already being worked out, incl. the most daring, based on fundamentally new solutions. However, practical results have not yet been obtained, and so far all real activity is mainly reduced to accusations against Russia and China. When the Pentagon will be able to move from words to deeds and provide protection against perceived threats is unclear.
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