China’s military is developing powerful lasers, electromagnetic railguns and high-power microwave weapons for use in a future “light war” involving space-based attacks on satellites.
Beijing’s push to produce so-called directed-energy weapons aims to neutralize America’s key strategic advantage: the web of intelligence, communication and navigation satellites enabling military strikes of unparalleled precision expeditionary warfare far from US shores.
The idea of a space-based laser gun was disclosed in the journal Chinese Optics in December 2013 by three researchers, Gao Ming-hui, Zeng Yu-quang and Wang Zhi-hong. All work for the Changchun Institute for Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics – the leading center for laser weapons technology.
“In future wars, the development of ASAT [anti-satellite] weapons is very important,” they wrote. “Among those weapons, laser attack system enjoys significant advantages of fast response speed, robust counter-interference performance and a high target destruction rate, especially for a space-based ASAT system. So the space-based laser weapon system will be one of the major ASAT development projects.”
The researchers propose building a 5-ton chemical laser that will be stationed in low-earth orbit as a combat platform capable of destroying satellites in orbit. Given funding by the Chinese military, which is in charge of China’s space program, the satellite-killing laser could be deployed by 2023.
According to the article, an anti-satellite attack in space would employ a ground-based radar to identify a target satellite, a special camera to provide precision targeting and a deployable membrane telescope that would focus the laser beam on the target satellite.
The article also reveals that in 2005, the Chinese conducted a test of a ground-based laser weapon that was used to “blind” an orbiting satellite.
“In 2005, we have successfully conducted a satellite-blinding experiment using a 50-100 kilowatt capacity mounted laser gun in Xinjiang province,” the three researchers wrote. “The target was a low orbit satellite with a tilt distance of 600 kilometers. The diameter of the telescope firing the laser beam is 0.6 meters wide. The accuracy of [acquisition, tracking and pointing is less than 5 [microradians].”
Richard Fisher, a China military specialist at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, disclosed the existence of the laser weapons program in US congressional testimony last month.
He did, however, caution that the publication of such articles is a clear indication that Beijing wants the world to believe — or at least raise the possibility that it could — rapidly militarize space.
China’s space program is dual-use — supporting both civilian and military needs. For example, China’s Shenzhou and Tiangong manned spacecraft were used to perform military missions. China’s coming space station and plans for a future base on the moon also will have military applications. It is conceivable that China could launch an orbiting laser gun disguised as a scientific module.
“The Chinese government would not hesitate to use the lives of its astronauts as a shield to deceive the world about the real purpose of its space station,” Fisher says.
“Having gained the advantage of surprise, the combat space station could begin attacks against key US satellites, thus blinding the US to the launch of new combat satellites that would attack many more US satellites.”
Developing dedicated space combat system is in line with China’s long-term goal of achieving global strategic ascendency. Fisher believes the threat of Chinese space weapons is more than notional and that the US should respond by developing its own space warfare capabilities.
China has been working on developing laser weapons since the 1960s, and the People’s Liberation Army in 2015 published the book Light War that gives a central role to fighting a future war using lasers.
The book argues that future warfare will be dominated by combing Big Data analytics – a specialty of Chinese military cyber warriors with artificial intelligence and directed energy weapons. According to Light War, deploying robot laser weapons in space is needed since directed energy will dominate the battlefields in 30 years.
“Perhaps the PLA is already reconfiguring for such a new era inasmuch as a major mission for the PLA’s new Strategic Support Force may be to lead the weaponization of the information realm and outer space,” Fisher says.
The Chinese effort could neutralize decades of investment by the United States in its own directed-energy weapons, including lasers, electromagnetic railguns and high-power microwave arms. The Pentagon in the past developed an airborne laser for use in missile defenses and railguns are expected to be deployed in the early 2020s. High-powered compact laser guns are slated for the 2030s.
Military secrecy prevents knowing the full breadth of China’s hi-tech energy weapons programs. But the testimony and published writings make clear that the development of these arms is getting large-scale investment and high-level Chinese support.
Military secrecy prevents knowing the full breadth of China’s hi-tech energy weapons programs. But the testimony and published writings make clear that the development of these arms is getting large-scale investment and high-level Chinese support.
Michael J Listner, of Space Law & Policy Solutions, believes China is likely making substantial progress in directed-energy devices, based on efforts being made and the resources available. “And with their prolific network of espionage, it is likely that development is supported by foreign research they have acquired as well,” he said.
“Such devices have a myriad of applications to include adapting them to their ASAT program, ballistic missile defense, point-defense for their naval vessels and battlefield applications,” he added. “Once China develops the underlying technology, the potential military applications are limitless as are the non-military uses.”
China’s disclosures about the coming weaponization of space should greatly concern American and allied defense planners, given the potential for these technologies to alter global stability and peace.
In light of these threats, the United States should consider changing its long-held policy of not deploying arms in space.
“As long as China demonstrates its willingness to exploit much of its space program for potential military missions, the US must possess options for at least neutralizing potential threats, preferably short of threatening lives,” Fisher says.
Move to China sack job
Everyone knows where they got it…
The U.S. could have weaponized space long before Bill Clinton gave the Chinese the rocket technology needed to get their sorry asses into space. Any American space weapons are defensive, to protect ourselves from the Soviet Union under Reagan. The costs associated with competing with that Star Wars project, ultimately caused the Russians to put up their hands…in surrender, realizing that the costs associated with space wars was simply not in their budget. But like any good deed the Chinese will now have no problem turning their space weaponry against us. Another Clinton deal gone bad…
Folks we need to come to terms with something here. How long before China is advanced in technology knowledge in warfare that they don’t actually need to spy on us to continue developing these types of weapons??Only our egos keep telling ourselves "They need us". "We have all this know how". Its as if we assume they have no research and development of their own. Also remember that they have zero beauracrat red tape slowing their weaponizing research and projects. Case in point, look at their mega structure projects. Utilizing their "capalistic zones" they are making huge strides while we sit here and haggle over morality, race relations and cost. China does not do this, so they can and are fast tracking everything.
Stupid Chinese. Space based weapons are outlawed and anti satellite warfare – like nuclear warfare – leaves space unusable for the world. The last time the Chinese attacked a satellite in a test, it polluted an entire orbit with debris and is unusable to this very day.
scrawny man speaks, go back to the PRC
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have PEACE on earth and not have to make these kind of defensive weapons? Maybe the USA should ditch (bankrupt the debt) the City of London Federal Reserve Bank, print our own currency, and make treaties with Russia and China and join the New Silk Road with a land bridge accross the Bering Strait and build the North American Water and Power Alliance. MAKE DEALS: NOT WAR.
Bob Smith I suppose if we dismantle our nuclear weapons and military, the Chinese and other nations would do the same? No! They would be fighting over who would get the first opportunity to invade and destroy our nation. They would wipe us out! You are a fool!
Looks like we need to accelerate our actions and forget any reactions.
ASIA FOR THE ASIANS, AFRICA FOR THE AFRICANS, WHITE COUNTRIES FOR EVERYBODY!
Everybody says there is this RACE problem. Everybody says this RACE problem will be solved when the third world pours into EVERY white country and ONLY into white countries.
The Netherlands and Belgium are just as crowded as Japan or Taiwan, but nobody says Japan or Taiwan will solve this RACE problem by bringing in millions of third worlders and quote assimilating unquote with them.
Everybody says the final solution to this RACE problem is for EVERY white country and ONLY white countries to “assimilate,” i.e., intermarry, with all those non-whites.
What if I said there was this RACE problem and this RACE problem would be solved only if hundreds of millions of non-blacks were brought into EVERY black country and ONLY into black countries?
How long would it take anyone to realize I’m not talking about a RACE problem. I am talking about the final solution to the BLACK problem?
And how long would it take any sane black man to notice this and what kind of psycho black man wouldn’t object to this?
But if I tell that obvious truth about the ongoing program of genocide against my race, the white race, Liberals and respectable conservatives agree that I am a naziwhowantstokillsixmillionjews.
They say they are anti-racist. What they are is anti-white.
Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white.
Treaty violation??!! Why, by GOD! I’ll write a letter to the TIMES! No, by Gadfrey – I’ll demand UN ACTION ON THIS! THIS shall not STAND!
Oh my sides…
Frank Blangeard except that they will have no New innovations and products to steal, I mean manufacture. You do know that once a company manufactures goods in china, their intellectual property, molds and manufacturing tech is considered a "gift" to china. The owners cannot take them with them when they leave. Also, manufacturers make extra production runs and sell those goods around the world and on eBay. Just look up any technology on eBay. It will be half price and ship from china. It’s the worst place to get your companies manufacturing done. All protected by a government that says "china first". When our president says that, people hoot and howl. There it’s just the MO.
Bob Smith, that is total bullshit. You really think that the Chinese or anybody else would stop spying if we quit. That’s not how they play the game. Time to leave OZ Dorothy.
John, what yoyu say is total bullshit. You think if we stopped spying all of a a sudden they would start playing nice. Time to leave Oz Dorothy.
Richard Jones It makes a whole lot freaken difference.
PolitiBird.com we are a really bad empire evidently. Wheniraq asked us to leave, we packed up and left. We didn’t take a drop of their oil either. When the Philippines asked us to leave we packed up and left. When residents of Okinawa asked that we relocate our base, we did. As an empire we really suck. We don’t plunder and we leave when asked to. We also make the nations we are stationed in top 10 economies, I.e. Germany, Japan, and Korea.
But our American Military Space Command, ran by a General, is another leg of our defense and offense and are not bunch of cub scouts. I know Trump will be behind them.
Worse news for Pakistanis?
Bob Smith right, the hacks into our national secrets are because we spy on other nations. If we stop they would most definitely say "no reason to steal their technology anymore. They stopped spying". Does that really make sense to you?
Bill Clinton declassified a lot of stuff for the Chinese to purchass. But Chinese agents, even at this moment have infiltrated our research centers and colleges and steal us blind. They need to be thrown out along with the muslims.