A senior U.S. Space Force leader revealed that China is conducting complex satellite manoeuvres in low Earth orbit. These movements resemble a type of “dogfight” in space, showing China’s growing skill in orbital warfare. The disclosure highlights the narrowing technological gap between the United States and its strategic rivals.
Speaking at the McAleese Defence Programs Conference in Washington, General Michael Guetlein detailed the observations. He explained that commercial surveillance assets tracked Chinese satellites performing intricate, coordinated manoeuvres. Guetlein stated, “We have observed five distinct objects moving in and out around one another in synchrony.” He added, “That’s what we call dogfighting in space—rehearsals of tactics, techniques, and satellite-to-satellite operations.”
China’s Advanced Orbital Satellites Manoeuvre
Later, a Space Force spokesperson clarified that the 2024 exercise had involved three test Shiyan-24C satellites and two Shijian-605 spacecraft. The Shijian-6 systems, long suspected of being capable of signals intelligence, had participated in the sophisticated orbital manoeuvres.
The exercise reflected China’s growing capabilities in rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), a set of capabilities which allow satellites to rendezvous with, inspect, and interact with other space objects.
These advances in RPO technology may pose a security threat because such methods can be used not only for inspection and maintenance of satellites but also for offensive purposes, e.g., to disable or capture enemy satellites.
A Growing Threat to American Space Supremacy
Guetlein placed China’s recent actions within the broader context of increasing space-based military competition. He cited previous instances of concerning activity from other competitors, including Russia’s 2019 demonstration of a “nesting doll” capability, in which a satellite launched a smaller spacecraft and then conducted stalking manoeuvres near an American asset.
These developments highlight the United States’ greatest challenge: the enemy’s rapidly expanding space capabilities threaten to undermine the military’s long-term technological edge. “That capability gap once was enormous,” Guetlein said. “We’ve got to rethink the way we think about space, because that capability gap can reverse and no longer be on our side.”
The Space Force Response
Realising the necessity of preserving its strategic edge, the U.S. Space Force is racing ahead to achieve space supremacy. This involves both defensive and offensive actions to safeguard American satellites from potential attack and to deter hostile action.
“The Space Force mission is to provide space superiority to the joint force—not space for the sake of space,” Guetlein repeated. “Space operations enable us to be able to fight as a joint force and count on those capabilities across all the other domains as well.”
As part of this initiative, the U.S. is investing in increased situational awareness, space-based weapons, and resilient satellite networks that can withstand hostile attacks. The intention is to ensure that the U.S. and its allies can operate in space without hindrance from their rivals.
Increasing Space Tensions China’s growing military presence in space has been a source of concern for years. Beijing has been working quickly to build satellite-based capabilities, including anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons and electronic warfare capabilities to jam or disable communications networks, in recent years.
The Pentagon has continuously cautioned that China’s progress in space doesn’t stop with defensive use but also encompasses offensive technology to counter American space supremacy. In 2021, the Defence Intelligence Agency reported that China had significantly improved its space warfighting capabilities, including its capacity to use satellite-based weapons that could be deployed to attack American targets.
The Future of Space Warfare
The increasing militarisation of outer space has causedbout the future stability of orbital activities. While space had been a fairly peaceful region with scientific exploration and commercial exploitation as the hubs of activity, it is being quickly transformed into a significant battleground of modern warfare.
The U.S. Space Force and the military are closely partnering with the commercial space industries to enhance surveillance and response. Artificial intelligence, satellite surveillance, and next-generation propulsion innovations in the private sector are leading the way to maintain U.S. security in space.
But as the enemy continues to build more advanced space-based capabilities, war in space is a growing threat. Preserving U.S. technological and strategic superiority in space will be critical to preserving national security and deterring threats.
Conclusion
China’s recent satellite dogfighting demonstration is an intriguing benchmark in the evolving space warfare environment. As the differential between U.S. and competitor space capabilities narrows, space superiority is now the U.S. Space Force’s highest priority.
Meanwhile, rivals like China and Russia are rapidly advancing their space capabilities, challenging U.S. dominance in orbit. As a result, the United States faces growing pressure to strengthen both its defensive and offensive space policies.
Looking ahead, the future of warfare will increasingly be shaped by space-based technologies and strategies. Therefore, it is crucial that the U.S. acts swiftly to meet these emerging threats and maintain its strategic edge.
References
About the Author
