Russia & China Challenge U.S. Space Supremacy With ASAT Missiles - from TRUNEWS

(TRUNEWS) Russia & China have developed and tested anti-satellite (ASAT) missile technology capable of disabling U.S. military & civilian communications infrastructure orbiting Earth, as a direct challenge to U.S. supremacy in space.

The FreeBeacon reported that according to an anonymous defense official familiar with reports of the test, Russia carried out the first successful flight of their ASAT missile, known as ‘Nudol’, on November 18th.

The weapon is being developed by the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern reported Novosti, and Russian state run press also identified the mobile transporter/launcher as “a new Russian long-range missile defense and space defense intercept complex” seated “inside the scope of Nudol OKR (experimental development project).”

The Washington Free Beacon also noted that China tested their version of the ASAT missile, known as Dong Heng-3 (DN-3), 20 days earlier, from the Korla Missile Test Complex in western China.

In a Chinese press release the flight test was originally reported as a missile defense interceptor, however two anonymous defense officials told FreeBeacon that this was a half truth. The sources revealed that the DN-3 is primarily a direct-ascent missile designed to ram into satellites and destroy them, even if intelligence assessments hold that the weapon has defense missile capabilities.

“developing capabilities that concern us”

Air Force Space Command commander Gen. John Hyten warned in a report featured in the Colorado Springs Gazette, that both Russia & China are “developing capabilities that concern us” and that he does not want to see conflict extend to space.

Hyten additionally commented that aside from Russia & China, North Korea and Iran are also developing ASAT capabilities.

Defense Analysts say the threat to satellites is a serious strategic vulnerability. With as few as two dozen ASAT missiles, a country could destroy U.S. intelligence, navigation, and communications capabilities that are essential to critical operation of both military and civilian infrastructure operation.

These latest revelations come on the heels of comments by Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics for the Pentagon, who mentioned troubles Raytheon Co are experiencing with their program to develop ground controls for a new generation of GPS satellites.

Reuters reported that the system is critical to the Air Force’s ability to operate GPS, or global positioning system, satellites which help the military target weapons strikes, provide critical timing information and also provide critical services for commercial industry.

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