Russia and China Demonstrate Advanced Orbital Maneuvering, Prompting Further Calls for Anti-Satellite WeaponsJon Martindale
Extreme TechWed, October 22, 2025 at 8:00 AM EDT
2 min read
(Credit: Space Command/Public Domain)Describing the latest Russian and Chinese satellite orbital maneuvering as "sophisticated," researchers and analysts are placing greater emphasis on the US developing anti-satellite capabilities—and even space-based weaponry. This echoes earlier calls from US Space Command, which suggested that more capable space-based warfighting abilities were of the utmost importance.
Sticking weapons in space feels very mid-20th-century sci-fi, but as reusable rockets have decreased the costs of putting material into orbit and global satellite networks become ever more integrated in modern logistics and battlefield control, being able to target your opponent's satellites becomes more critical. Although the risk of space debris for "disabling" anything in orbit is exceptionally high, that kind of consideration may come second in a hot conflict.
"The Russians and the Chinese are demonstrating more sophisticated orbital maneuvering abilities. There's no denying that," said Bleddyn Bowen, associate professor in astropolitics and co-director of the Space Research Center at Durham University (via Space.com). "Whether they are actual ASAT platforms or not isn't as clear-cut. But if you were going to develop those kinds of co-orbital ASATs, they are showing many of the techniques and capabilities that you need," he said.
Chinese SJ-25 satellite on display in the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.A Chinese satellite allegedly docked for orbital refuelling in June, prompting concern of potential aggressive rendezvous efforts. Credit: Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
Future anti-satellite capabilities wouldn't need to destroy a satellite, though. Bowen suggested that jamming and hacking, or hitting a satellite's ground control station with more traditional kinetic strikes, could also be viable ways to degrade an opponent's space-based capabilities. The first examples of this appeared in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where both sides have attempted to limit their opponent's ability to access satellite feeds, GPS, and other space-based assets.
Allegedly, Russia is investigating some Soviet-era anti-satellite concepts, potentially even detonating nuclear weapons in space—although considering it hasn't used a tactical nuke on the ground while losing tremendous ground, manpower, and material in Ukraine, that seems less likely.
"There are enough indicators from enough nations that this is not just posturing," suggested Bruce McClintock, lead of the RAND Space Enterprise Initiative. "A lot of people are talking about Russia doing this. It's an indiscriminate weapon. It can't just target certain satellites. It would have short- to long-term effects for everybody."
McClintock also highlighted how recent attempts at developing in-orbit refuelling or debris capture devices could also be used as anti-satellite systems in the wrong hands with the wrong intentions.
The US is considering a "space-based" layer for its Golden Dome defense project, so it's likely already developing counters to some of these concerns. Regardless of American efforts, though, the prospect of warfare stretching into a new theater above everyone's heads is very real in the decades to come.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/russia-china-demonstrate-advanced-orbital-120000815.html
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