China’s First Successful ASAT Test in 2007
China’s entry into space weaponization can be traced to a critical event in January 2007, when the country conducted its first successful Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test. During this test, a Chinese SC-19 ballistic missile, launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, struck and destroyed an aging Chinese owned weather satellite, the Fengyun-1C, which had been orbiting in low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 865 kilometers. This test was a major milestone for China, marking its formal entry into the world of ASAT capabilities and signaling that Beijing was serious about militarizing space.
The destruction of the Fengyun-1C satellite created a significant amount of space debris-over 3,000 trackable pieces-posing a threat to other satellites and spacecraft in low Earth orbit. The international community, including the United States and its allies, condemned the test due to the dangers this debris posed to both civilian and military satellites. However, the broader implications were clear: China had developed the capability to target and destroy satellites in orbit, a critical component of any space warfare strategy.
This 2007 ASAT test demonstrated China’s ability to launch a direct-ascent kinetic kill vehicle, which uses a missile to destroy its target by physically colliding with it at high speed. The success of this test sent shockwaves through the global defense community, as it confirmed that China had acquired the means to disrupt or destroy the satellites of any adversary. This capability poses a direct threat to the United States’ vast satellite network, which plays a crucial role in military operations, intelligence gathering, and even civilian infrastructure such as communications and weather forecasting.
Following the success of its 2007 ASAT test, China continued to develop more advanced ASAT capabilities, including both kinetic and non-kinetic systems. These tests have shown that China is not content with merely having a basic ASAT capability but is seeking to develop a full spectrum of ASAT weapons that can target satellites in different orbits and using various methods.
Kinetic Kill Vehicles
China’s continued focus on kinetic kill vehicles (KKVs) is evident in subsequent tests and developments. In 2013, China conducted another ASAT test, this time targeting an object in medium Earth orbit (MEO), which is much higher than the low Earth orbit of the 2007 test. The test used a Dong Neng-3 (DN-3) missile, a system believed to be an upgraded version of the SC-19 used in the 2007 test. While details of the test were not publicly released, it is widely believed that the missile successfully intercepted and destroyed its target, further demonstrating China’s ability to engage satellites at varying altitudes.
The development of the DN-3 system reflects China’s commitment to enhancing its ASAT capabilities. Kinetic kill vehicles remain a central component of China’s ASAT strategy, providing the ability to physically destroy satellites by ramming them with high-speed missiles. These weapons are particularly effective against large satellites in low and medium Earth orbits, where they can inflict significant damage not just on the target but on other satellites in the vicinity due to the resulting debris.
The threat posed by kinetic ASAT weapons to the United States is significant. The U.S. relies heavily on satellites for military operations, including communications, intelligence gathering, and missile guidance. A successful ASAT attack on key U.S. satellites could severely disrupt military operations and reduce the effectiveness of U.S. forces and damage the United states’ force posture and capabilities in a conflict. The development of kinetic ASAT weapons by China adds another layer of complexity to U.S. defense planning, as it must now consider the possibility of losing critical space assets in the early stages of a conflict. This is one of the reasons that I pioneered the concept of orbital suppression and established the seven main principles of spaceborne warfare with an extensive focus on the force- protection principle and called for enhanced development of the United States’ terrestrial capabilities in my mechanics of spaceborne warfare series and further the revolutionizing electronic combat papers.
Laser-Based Systems
In addition to kinetic kill vehicles, China has also made significant progress in developing laser-based ASAT systems. These systems represent a non-kinetic approach to disabling satellites, using high- powered lasers to damage or destroy critical components of satellites without physically destroying them. Laser-based ASAT systems have several advantages over kinetic systems, including the ability to disable satellites without creating debris and the potential for more covert operations, as lasers do not leave the same extensive visible signature as a missile launch, however their use can still be monitored. China’s interest in laser-based ASAT systems is part of a broader strategy to develop non-kinetic space weapons that can be used in a variety of conflict scenarios. Lasers can be used to blind or damage the optics and sensors of reconnaissance satellites, rendering them useless without physically destroying them. This capability is particularly valuable in scenarios where China may not want to escalate a conflict by openly destroying an adversary’s satellite but still wants to degrade their capabilities.
There have been reports suggesting that China has already deployed ground-based laser systems capable of targeting satellites in low Earth orbit. These systems could be used to temporarily blind or disable the optical sensors of surveillance satellites, preventing them from collecting intelligence or tracking military movements. In addition to ground-based systems, China is also believed to be developing space-based laser systems that could be deployed on satellites, allowing for more flexible and covert ASAT operations with minimal operational signature.
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The potential deployment of laser-based ASAT systems by China poses a significant threat to U.S. military satellites. The U.S. relies heavily on reconnaissance satellites to monitor global hotspots and track military activities in real-time. A successful laser attack on these satellites could blind the U.S. Spaceborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SBISR), reducing its ability to gather intelligence, Detect and respond to threats. In a conflict, the loss of these capabilities could give China a significant advantage, particularly in the early stages of a confrontation.
Directed-Energy Weapons
Beyond lasers, China is also exploring other forms of directed-energy weapons (DEWs) for use in space. Directed-energy weapons use concentrated energy, such as microwaves or electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), to disable or destroy electronic systems. These weapons have the potential to disable satellites by frying their electronics, rendering them inoperable without causing physical damage or creating debris.
China’s interest in directed-energy weapons reflects its broader focus on developing non-kinetic space weapons that can be used in a wide range of scenarios. Unlike kinetic weapons, which are designed to physically destroy their targets, directed-energy weapons can disable satellites without creating debris or leaving a visible signature. This makes them particularly attractive for covert operations or scenarios where China may want to avoid openly escalating a conflict.
There is evidence to suggest that China is making significant progress in developing directed-energy weapons for use in space. Reports from U.S. intelligence agencies have indicated that China is working on both ground-based and space-based directed-energy weapons that could be used to disable or destroy satellites. These weapons could be used in conjunction with other ASAT capabilities, such as kinetic kill vehicles and lasers, to create a multi-layered approach to space warfare.
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The development of directed-energy weapons by China represents a significant threat to U.S. military and civilian satellites. The U.S. relies on a wide range of satellites for communication, navigation, and intelligence gathering, all of which could be targeted by directed-energy weapons. In a conflict, the loss of these capabilities could severely hamper U.S. military operations, reducing its ability to project power and defend its interests.
China’s development of ASAT capabilities is part of a broader strategy to militarize space and challenge the dominance of the United States and its allies in this critical domain. The militarization of space is not a new phenomenon, but China’s recent advances in ASAT technology have brought the issue to the forefront of global security concerns. As China continues to develop and deploy these capabilities, space is becoming an increasingly contested domain, with significant implications for the future of military operations and global security.
China’s Ability to Disrupt or Destroy Satellites
The development of ASAT capabilities gives China the ability to disrupt or destroy the satellites of its adversaries, significantly altering the balance of power in space. Satellites are a critical component of modern military operations, providing everything from real-time intelligence to secure communications. The ability to disable or destroy these satellites gives China a powerful tool to degrade the capabilities of its adversaries, particularly in the early stages of a conflict.
China’s ASAT capabilities are not limited to kinetic kill vehicles and lasers. The country is also developing cyberattacks and electronic warfare capabilities that could be used to disrupt the operations of satellites without physically destroying them. Cyberattacks could be used to hack into satellites and disable their systems and subsystems or take control of them, while electronic warfare could be used to jam the signals that satellites rely on for communication and navigation.
The implications of these capabilities are profound. The United States, in particular, relies heavily on satellites for its military operations. The loss of key satellites could severely degrade the ability of U.S. forces to communicate, navigate, and gather intelligence. In a conflict with China, the United States could find itself at a significant disadvantage if its satellites are disabled or destroyed in the early stages of the conflict. This vulnerability has prompted the U.S. military to invest in more resilient and redundant satellite systems, but the threat posed by China’s ASAT capabilities remains a significant concern.
Courtesy Adib Enayati, Ph.D., Genesys Defense Special Intelligence and Warfare Studies Unit (GDSIWSU)
