The head of the US Space Force has warned about China’s rapid advancements in military space technology, describing the speed and diversity of China’s developments as “mind-boggling.” 

General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations for the US Space Force, said that Beijing’s intensifying focus on militarizing space significantly heightens the threat of warfare in orbit, a scenario that poses serious risks to global security. 

The Financial Times quoted Saltzman as saying, “The number of different categories of space weapons that [China has] created and the speed with which they’re doing it is very threatening.” 

He further emphasized that China’s innovations and deployment of space-based weaponry represent a strategic concern far exceeding that of Russia’s potential space-based nuclear arms. 

In an interview with Politico, Saltzman elaborated on the scale of China’s space capabilities, which includes launching “hundreds of satellites” designed for precise targeting of assets on Earth.

This expansive satellite network enhances Beijing’s potential to execute missions that extend well beyond simple reconnaissance, effectively creating an advanced targeting system that could be weaponized. 

The recent proliferation of space weapons has prompted the US Space Force to expand alliances, particularly across Europe. Saltzman, on a diplomatic tour in Europe, noted the urgency of a unified response to the threat of space conflict. 

His call for increased cooperation reflects a broader strategy aimed at strengthening deterrence capabilities with European allies. 

“One of the reasons you have a space force in the US now is in recognition of the last 20 years, [Russia and China] have developed and demonstrated the ability to conduct warfighting in space,” Saltzman noted.

Established in 2019 under then-president Donald Trump, the US Space Force was conceived specifically to protect American interests in the rapidly evolving arena of space security.

Saltzman warned that Russia, though also a capable space-faring nation with counter-space investments, represents a more immediate threat to European security, particularly given its development of a nuclear weapon system designed for space deployment. 

Yet, Saltzman affirmed that China’s broader array of space capabilities and its rapid advancements have made it the more pressing challenge. 

Growing Arms Race In Orbit 

US defense officials have regularly raised alarm over the types of weapons both China and Russia have been testing in recent years. These include kinetic kill vehicles that can target satellites and ballistic missiles, as well as “grappling hook” satellites capable of dragging other satellites out of orbit. 

In a concerning development, a senior Pentagon official revealed in May that Russia is experimenting with an “indiscriminate” nuclear weapon intended for space. On the other hand, China conducted its third test of a secretive and experimental unmanned space plane in September. 

Moreover, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been vocal about China’s ambitions to become a global space power, indicating that space dominance has become central to China’s military vision. 

This ambition has materialized over recent years, with China’s rapidly expanding military capabilities in space progressively narrowing the technological gap with the United States, a domain where the US has been unrivaled in recent decades.

In April, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said that China often portrays its space endeavors as civilian in nature, though they likely hold military objectives. 

Beijing is also advancing technologies like hypersonic glide vehicles, which can bypass traditional air defense systems and evade satellite-based early-warning systems. This technology, alongside satellite-targeting systems, points to a broader military ambition.

Beijing, however, has consistently denied any military intentions in space. In 2021, China’s ambassador to the United Nations stressed that “space war cannot be won and must never be fought.” 

Nonetheless, the US Space Force is stepping up its capabilities to maintain its strategic lead. Established to safeguard US interests in space, the force is investing in systems designed to protect costly satellites and dissuade adversaries from deploying their space assets in a conflict. 

One such defensive measure includes laser technology capable of blinding optical sensors on hostile satellites. Other threats include efforts to intercept satellite communications and disrupt GPS signals, a tactic Russia has already demonstrated in the Baltics.

This year, the US Space Force has a dedicated budget of $29 billion, supplementing NASA’s $27.2 billion budget. Meanwhile, Beijing has dismissed Washington’s warnings, accusing the US of inflating the “China threat” narrative as a pretext to expand its own military power in space, aiming to maintain global dominance. 

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