It comes as Russia and China continue the development and testing of new space technology. Source: NASA, Flickr.
Pentagon leadership will be holding a classified meeting next week to discuss Russia and China developing new types of space weapons.
According to an agenda for the meeting reviewed by DefenseNews, the concern is “how China and Russia’s potential development of fractional orbital bombardment systems and space-to-ground weapons could impact U.S. deterrence and strategic stability, as well as to consider U.S. response options to the potential development of such capabilities by any adversary”.
It comes as Russia and China continue the development and testing of new space technology and after two key events from last year.
In November 2021, a Russian anti-satellite missile test created space debris fragments which forced the International Space Station to perform an evasive manoeuvre.
Earlier in October, China tested what some analysts concluded to be a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), a system that can travel in low-earth orbit to its target.
Analysts say the possibility of Chinese and Russian FOBS and space-to-ground weapons is still murky, partially because the Pentagon has not made any evidence public although several senior defence officials have said the testing took place.
“Clearly the Russians and Chinese are trying to develop systems to get around the missile defence systems the U.S. has been developing,” said Kaitlyn Johnson, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“It’s hard to evaluate what that is from the public side of things, what that’s entailed. I imagine that’s what this meeting is about.”
The head of U.S. Strategic Command, Adm. Charles Richard called China’s test something “never before seen in the world” in August.
“I am not convinced at all we’ve fully thought through the implications of what that weapon system means,” he said.
“You’re gonna get decreased warning timelines, difficulties in attribution and an increased threat to our traditional space and missile defences and forces.”
The classified meeting to discuss the new space threats is scheduled for the 6th and 7th of September.
