A senior U.S. Space Force official said that China practiced 'air combat (dogfighting)' last year by mobilizing several satellites in space. As China’s space technology and operational capabilities rapidly improve, the potential for conflict between the two countries in space is also increasing.
During a McAllister Defense Program conference held in Arlington, Virginia, on the 18th (local time), Michael Getlin, Deputy Commander of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force, noted, "We confirmed that a hostile nation conducted military training last year using five satellites in low Earth orbit." Getlin did not specify which country these five satellites belonged to. A Space Force spokesperson later informed reporters that the satellites were Chinese.
Dogfighting refers to close-range combat between fighter jets. While it evokes images of intense aerial battles between spacecraft in the science fiction movie Star Wars, this training involved satellites. During the event, Getlin stated, "After confirming space situational awareness information provided by commercial partners, we discovered that five space objects approached each other and then moved away," adding, "It appears they were rehearsing tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting orbital space operations from one satellite to another." He continued, "Hostile nations simulated orbital combat by practicing air combat in space, which serves as a new phase in the extensive effort to deny, disrupt, degrade, and destroy the space capabilities the U.S. possesses." The military journal Defense News reported that the training confirmed the involvement of three Chinese experimental satellites, Shiyan-24C, and experimental spacecraft Shijian-605A and B.
China and Russia have previously tested rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) using two satellites to approach and then move apart in low Earth orbit. However, it is unusual to capture an instance where multiple satellites were mobilized simultaneously as if several fighter jets were engaging in air combat.
Both the U.S. and other countries are striving to secure rendezvous technologies for satellites and spacecraft to use in space. Japan's space debris management company, Astroscale, is developing satellites that capture orbital satellites or space debris. Satellites and space debris flying in low Earth orbit are traveling at speeds of 7 to 8 km per second. The technology for accurately approaching and capturing such space objects is as challenging as catching a bullet with a pair of tweezers. Experts believe that China has significantly improved its maneuverability in low Earth orbit.
On that day, Getlin mentioned other activities conducted by hostile entities in space. Leolabs, a space tracking company based in Colorado, confirmed the training situation of China via ground radar and separately noted that it observed cases of training currently underway by Russia. In 2019, Russia conducted an experiment using a satellite to drop a smaller satellite flying nearby.
However, the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the narrowing gap in space technology with China. U.S. Space Force officials noted in previous interviews with other media that "China has made significant progress in potentially becoming a game changer in space technology" and emphasized the need for the U.S. to secure its superiority in space.
China is indeed accelerating the development of technology to manage space up to 36,000 km from the ground. In January, China launched the Shijian-25 satellite to test technology for in-orbit refueling and extending the lifespan of its spacecraft. This marks the first time that China publicly announced it has secured refueling and maintenance capabilities in space. The U.S. only achieved success in extending a satellite's operating life by five years through refueling in 2019, conducted by Northrop Grumman. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also pursued a similar project, but it was halted due to technical challenges, cost overruns, and delays. China has also set a goal to surpass the U.S. in space stealth technology. Experts identify reusable launch vehicles and small cluster satellites as key areas for upcoming competition between the U.S. and China. The Chinese government has announced plans to manage the Aerospace Force, established as an independent unit in 2015, under the Central Military Commission.
The U.S. remains superior in space over China. The U.S. owns the most space assets, with over 8,000 satellites in orbit. This figure is 12 times that of China's total satellites. However, Getlin cautioned, "At one time, the capability gap between the U.S. and China in space was significant, but if we don't change the way we view space, it will become increasingly difficult for the U.S. to maintain its superiority."
Experts say that the U.S. is most worried about China's ability to leverage its space capabilities to exert influence over other countries. There is particular concern that China, using its outward expansion policy known as the Belt and Road Initiative, may act as a partner comparable to the U.S. in space and influence latecomer nations pursuing space entry.
An aerial battle involving satellites does not unfold as rapidly as one might see in the science fiction movie Star Wars. Changing a satellite's orbit can take as little as a few hours or as long as several weeks. The fact that the deputy commander of the U.S. Space Force used the expression 'air combat' in space indicates significant meaning. It suggests that to continue holding an advantage in space, the U.S. needs to accelerate its efforts, according to the general interpretation from the U.S. space industry.