Washington: U.S. space experts have seen with great concern China using “Satellite dogfighting” techniques in low Earth orbit. Originally used to describe air-to–air combat between fighter planes, the word currently refers to coordinated satellite activities replicating orbital combat situations.
General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations for the US Space Force, identified five Chinese spacecraft seen in coordinated motions as indication of advanced space warfare capability. Two Shijian-6 05A/B test space objects and three Shiyan-24C test satellites comprised the test configuration.
A significant step forward for space activities, these satellites demonstrated that they could orbit one another under control. Suspected signals intelligence purpose of the Shijian-6 system could be related with communications and data monitoring.
This development suggests China’s rising military and technological capacity in spaceis therefore challenging American dominance. The U.S. Space Force is changing its defence posture, in turn, since the difference in U.S. capacity relative to that of other countries is gradually closing. General Guetlein underlined that China and Russia are increasing their space capacity; Russia now exhibits the same kinds of innovative satellite movements from prior times.
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