China demonstrated ‘satellite dogfighting,’ Space Force general says

A high House Drive basic 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 house capabilities.

“With our business belongings, now we have noticed 5 totally different objects in house maneuvering out and in and round one another in synchronicity and in management,” Vice Chief of House Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein mentioned through the McAleese Protection Packages Convention in Washington. “That’s what we name dogfighting in house. They’re working towards techniques, methods and procedures to do on-orbit house 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 skill 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 house functionality hole between the U.S. navy and its closest enemies is shrinking, a priority House Drive leaders have been elevating for years.

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

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

“The aim of the House Drive is to ensure house superiority for the joint power — not house for house’s sake. House [operations] assure that, identical to all the opposite domains, we are able to battle as a joint power and we are able to rely upon these capabilities,” Guetlein mentioned.