The head of the United States Space Force, General Chance Saltzman, recently issued a stark warning concerning China’s rapid advancements in military space technology, describing the pace and diversity of its developments as “mind-boggling.” This acceleration in China’s space capabilities has raised significant concerns among U.S. defense officials about the future of space security and the risks of potential conflict in orbit, marking an era of heightened space militarization that could pose serious threats to global security.
General Saltzman, who serves as Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force, highlighted China’s focus on space-based weaponry and surveillance systems, which he believes represent a growing strategic challenge that overshadows other military developments in space. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Saltzman noted, “The number of different categories of space weapons that [China has] created and the speed with which they’re doing it is very threatening.” His remarks underscore an increasingly urgent narrative from U.S. military and intelligence communities that warn of a new phase in the militarization of space, led by China.
According to General Saltzman, China’s strategic advances extend beyond traditional satellite reconnaissance. China has been deploying a sophisticated array of military satellites, launching hundreds with capabilities that span from intelligence gathering to precise targeting systems designed for terrestrial and space-based assets. This expansive satellite network could enable Beijing to conduct missions that range well beyond standard surveillance functions, creating what Saltzman describes as “an advanced targeting system that could be weaponized.”
In an interview with Politico, Saltzman elaborated on China’s increasing investment in military satellites, many of which have dual-use capabilities, blending civilian applications with military utility. This dual-purpose approach has provided China with an advanced infrastructure that could be mobilized rapidly in any conflict, giving Beijing a distinct advantage in a potential space-based engagement.
“China’s innovations and deployment of space-based weaponry represent a strategic concern far exceeding that of Russia’s potential space-based nuclear arms,” Saltzman emphasized, pointing to the breadth and sophistication of China’s space arsenal. U.S. defense officials have previously raised concerns over various space weapons that China and Russia are actively developing, including systems capable of interfering with, disabling, or even destroying satellites.
In the face of these developments, the U.S. Space Force, which was established in 2019 under then-president Donald Trump, has intensified its mission to protect American interests in space. With China now seen as a primary strategic adversary in this domain, Saltzman’s warnings are part of an urgent call for increased international cooperation to counterbalance these advancements.
On a recent diplomatic tour across Europe, Saltzman discussed the need for allied nations to unify their space security efforts. His visit reflects the U.S. Space Force’s broader strategy of strengthening deterrence capabilities through collaboration with European allies, whose proximity to Russia’s territory also raises immediate security considerations. Saltzman observed, “One of the reasons you have a Space Force in the U.S. now is in recognition of the last 20 years, [Russia and China] have developed and demonstrated the ability to conduct warfighting in space.”
The need for this coalition approach became particularly apparent as China and Russia, two nations with distinct yet complementary military capabilities, continue to assert their presence in space. Although Russia remains a powerful space-faring nation, its space-based nuclear capabilities pose a greater direct threat to European security, while China’s space advancements have introduced a complex array of strategic concerns that extend well beyond regional considerations.
Both China and Russia have made notable advancements in their space warfare capabilities, developing and testing various space weapons that could be deployed in the near future. These include kinetic kill vehicles, which can destroy satellites by colliding with them, as well as ballistic missiles and “grappling hook” satellites designed to pull rival satellites out of orbit.
In a revealing statement earlier this year, a senior Pentagon official disclosed that Russia is experimenting with what it described as an “indiscriminate” nuclear weapon intended for space deployment. China, meanwhile, conducted its third test of an experimental unmanned space plane in September, a project that has drawn considerable international attention for its potential military applications.
At the heart of China’s military ambitions in space is the desire to become a global space superpower. Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken openly about this vision, which has guided the nation’s aggressive expansion of space capabilities over recent years. According to Saltzman, China’s advancements are rapidly closing the technological gap with the United States, which had previously held an uncontested lead in space for decades.
China frequently asserts that its space endeavors serve peaceful and civilian purposes. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, however, warned in April that China’s actions may indicate a broader, strategic objective, one that could ultimately be more militaristic than publicly acknowledged. “They portray their space activities as primarily civilian,” Nelson noted, “but there is likely a significant military component to these efforts.”
One of the critical technologies under development is the hypersonic glide vehicle, a weapon capable of evading traditional air defenses and bypassing satellite-based early-warning systems. This technology, coupled with satellite-targeting capabilities, suggests a more extensive military agenda, which raises alarm among defense experts in the U.S. and beyond.
While China has consistently denied any military intentions in space, there remains a widespread perception in the West that Beijing’s space policies are rooted in military and strategic objectives. In 2021, China’s ambassador to the United Nations stated unequivocally that “space war cannot be won and must never be fought.” Yet, the ambiguity surrounding China’s space initiatives has led to skepticism among U.S. officials, who believe that China’s intentions may not align with its public declarations.
In response to the growing threat posed by China and Russia, the U.S. Space Force has significantly expanded its own space-based defensive and offensive capabilities. The force has invested in advanced systems designed to protect its own space assets, including costly satellites that provide essential functions such as communication, navigation, and intelligence gathering. These satellites are particularly vulnerable, as adversaries like China and Russia have demonstrated various ways to target and disrupt them.
One defensive measure includes laser technologies that can disable or blind optical sensors on hostile satellites, thereby rendering them ineffective. Additionally, the Space Force is exploring means to secure its satellite communications and GPS signals, which are increasingly targeted by Russian interference. Russia, for instance, has employed satellite jamming tactics in the Baltics, underscoring the necessity for robust countermeasures.
The U.S. Space Force’s current budget allocation of $29 billion is intended to enhance its technological capabilities and ensure that the U.S. maintains its strategic lead in space. This allocation supplements NASA’s $27.2 billion budget for space exploration and research. The investment reflects a heightened commitment from Washington to safeguard U.S. space assets, while countering the rapid advancements made by China and Russia.
However, despite its considerable investments, the U.S. has faced criticism from Beijing, which has dismissed Washington’s warnings as an attempt to inflate the so-called “China threat.” According to Chinese officials, the U.S. narrative is merely a pretext to justify its own military buildup in space, a claim that has found some resonance among critics of U.S. foreign policy.
The growing focus on space as a potential theater of conflict has not gone unnoticed by other nations. European allies, in particular, have shown increasing interest in collaborating with the U.S. on space security. NATO, which declared space as an operational domain in 2019, has since intensified its efforts to build a collective space policy, with the aim of countering potential threats from adversarial nations.
As Saltzman’s diplomatic engagements in Europe reveal, the U.S. Space Force views collaboration with allies as a critical element of its strategy. A unified front, according to Saltzman, could serve as a deterrent to would-be aggressors, emphasizing that any move toward space-based conflict would likely face a coordinated response.
Meanwhile, other space-faring nations, such as Japan and India, are also recalibrating their space policies, motivated by the intensifying security environment. Japan’s space agency, JAXA, has recently partnered with the U.S. on several initiatives, including satellite monitoring systems aimed at detecting and tracking potentially hostile satellites. India, too, has expanded its space capabilities, with an eye toward securing its own assets in an increasingly competitive domain.
