China demonstrated ‘satellite dogfighting,’ Space Force general says

A high Area Power common mentioned Tuesday that business programs have noticed Chinese language satellites rehearsing “dogfighting” maneuvers in low Earth orbit — the U.S. adversary’s newest present of tactical and technological development in area capabilities.

“With our business property, we’ve got noticed 5 totally different objects in area maneuvering out and in and round one another in synchronicity and in management,” Vice Chief of Area Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein mentioned throughout the McAleese Protection Packages Convention in Washington. “That’s what we name dogfighting in area. They’re training techniques, methods and procedures to do on-orbit area operations from one satellite tv for pc to a different.”

A service spokesperson later elaborated on Guetlein’s feedback, saying the operation occurred in 2024 and concerned three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two different Chinese language experimental spacecraft, the Shijian-605 A and B. The Shijian-6 programs are believed to have a alerts intelligence mission.

The train showcased the nation’s means to carry out complicated maneuvers in orbit, known as rendezvous and proximity operations, which contain not solely navigating round different objects but in addition inspecting them.

Guetlein listed the satellite tv for pc dogfighting demonstration alongside a number of different regarding actions from “near-peer” U.S. adversaries. That features Russia’s 2019 demonstration of a “nesting doll” functionality, the place one satellite tv for pc launched a smaller spacecraft that then carried out a number of stalking maneuvers close to a U.S. satellite tv for pc.

These behaviors point out the area functionality hole between the U.S. navy and its closest enemies is shrinking, a priority Area Power leaders have been elevating for years.

“That functionality hole was large,” Guetlein mentioned. “We’ve received to vary the way in which we take a look at area or that functionality hole could reverse and never be in our favor anymore.”

Guetlein’s feedback come because the Area Power ramps up its emphasis on establishing “superiority,” or dominance, in area, each by defending its satellites from enemy assaults and thru offensive measures of its personal.

“The aim of the Area Power is to ensure area superiority for the joint drive — not area for area’s sake. Area [operations] assure that, identical to all the opposite domains, we are able to struggle as a joint drive and we are able to depend upon these capabilities,” Guetlein mentioned.