{"id":149825,"date":"2015-05-09T14:40:35","date_gmt":"2015-05-09T14:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/?guid=4dc7d5501d67927b3084db2a6dffdc06"},"modified":"2015-05-09T19:21:24","modified_gmt":"2015-05-09T19:21:24","slug":"china-fast-builds-counter-space-capabilities-counter-us-satellites-pentagon-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/war-terrorism\/china-fast-builds-counter-space-capabilities-counter-us-satellites-pentagon-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"China fast builds \u2018counter-space\u2019 capabilities to counter US satellites, Pentagon warns"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Part of China\u2019s rapidly developing space program consists of testing new anti-space technologies, even though the country publicly pledges not to militarize space, the Pentagon said in a report to Congress.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cBy the end of October 2014, China had launched 16\u00a0spacecraft, either domestically or via a commercial space launch\u00a0provider. These spacecraft mostly expanded China\u2019s SATCOM and ISR\u00a0capabilities, while a few others tested new space\u00a0technologies,\u201d<\/em> said the report detailing potential threats\u00a0from China, which the US DoD released Friday.<\/p>\n

Among the latest achievements by China the report mentions the\u00a0first-ever launch of a satellite capable of sub-meter resolution
\nimaging, the Chang\u2019e-5 lunar mission and the completion of a new\u00a0space launch facility on Hainan Island.<\/p>\n

While acquiring new space assets of its own, China is developing\u00a0\u201ca variety of capabilities designed to limit or prevent the\u00a0use of space-based assets by adversaries during a crisis or\u00a0conflict, including the development of directed-energy weapons\u00a0and satellite jammers,\u201d<\/em> the report said<\/a>.\u00a0Of particular interest for the US military was the July 23, 2014\u00a0launch, which the Pentagon says was a follow-up of the 2007\u00a0destruction of an in-orbit defunct weather satellite.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\n Published time: May 09, 2015 14:40 <\/span>
\n <\/p><\/div>\n
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The Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang’e-3 lunar probe is seen docked at the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province December 1, 2013. (Reuters)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Part of China’s rapidly developing space program consists of testing new anti-space technologies, even though the country publicly pledges not to militarize space, the Pentagon said in a report to Congress.<\/p>\n

\n “By the end of October 2014, China had launched 16
\n spacecraft, either domestically or via a commercial space launch
\n provider. These spacecraft mostly expanded China’s SATCOM and ISR
\n capabilities, while a few others tested new space
\n technologies,”<\/em> said the report detailing potential threats
\n from China, which the US DoD released Friday.\n<\/p>\n

\n Among the latest achievements by China the report mentions the
\n first-ever launch of a satellite capable of sub-meter resolution
\n imaging, the Chang’e-5 lunar mission and the completion of a new
\n space launch facility on Hainan Island.\n<\/p>\n

\n While acquiring new space assets of its own, China is developing
\n “a variety of capabilities designed to limit or prevent the
\n use of space-based assets by adversaries during a crisis or
\n conflict, including the development of directed-energy weapons
\n and satellite jammers,”<\/em> the report said<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

\n Of particular interest for the US military was the July 23, 2014
\n launch, which the Pentagon says was a follow-up of the 2007
\n destruction of an in-orbit defunct weather satellite.\n<\/p>\n

\n READ MORE: Chinese warships to join Russian Navy
\n in Black Sea, Mediterranean for historic drill<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Another Chinese space mission in May 2013 sent an object on a
\n ballistic trajectory peaking above 30,000 km. The trajectory was
\n nearly high enough to reach geosynchronous orbit, in which many
\n nations place communication and earth-sensing satellites.\n<\/p>\n

\n The report says the mission did not place anything into the orbit
\n and was inconsistent with “with traditional space-launch
\n vehicles, ballistic missiles or sounding rocket launches used for
\n scientific research”<\/em> pointing to a possible test of an
\n anti-satellite weapon.\n<\/p>\n

\n Countering orbit access and taking out enemy satellites would be
\n a big advantage in a conflict against an enemy armed with
\n advanced precision weapons, like the US. China however denies
\n developing counter-satellite technologies and pledges to keep
\n weapons out of space. The US generals don’t seem to be convinced.\n<\/p>\n

\n “China’s continued development of destructive space
\n technologies represented a threat to all peaceful space-faring
\n nations,”<\/em> the report said.\n<\/p>\n

\n Another emergent threat the report focuses on is China’s closer
\n defense cooperation with Russia, particularly on the acquisition
\n of advanced weapon technologies.\n<\/p>\n

\n “As Russia has come under pressure from sanctions imposed by
\n the West over its actions in Ukraine, Russia is turning to China
\n for investment to avert a recession and is now granting China
\n access to advanced weapon systems that it once restricted,”<\/em>
\n the document said.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Russia’s concerns about intellectual property protections
\n affect the types and quantities of advanced arms or associated
\n production technologies it is willing to transfer to China, but
\n resistance is waning as Russia looks to China to relieve the
\n effects of Western sanctions,”<\/em> it said.\n<\/p>\n

\n China is expected to become the first foreign country to buy
\n S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia and is planning to
\n purchase advanced Su-35 fighter jets. There were reports of an
\n arms deal for an unnamed Russian anti-ship cruise missile on the
\n table.\n<\/p>\n

\n The two countries are also expanding their joint military
\n exercise program, with a first-ever naval drill in the
\n Mediterranean coming this month.\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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