China's military to create a new 'Space Force' to strengthen its presence in low-Earth orbit | Daily Mail Online
Is China preparing for a SPACE war? Nation may be creating a military unit to 'achieve control of low Earth orbit', claim experts
Published: 08:16 +11:00, 1 January 2016 | Updated: 10:22 +11:00, 1 January 2016
China's military is set to create a new 'Space Force' to strengthen its presence in low-Earth orbit.
While there has been no official announcement, Washington Times sources claim the Space Force will be created within the People's Liberation Army.
It will include nuclear missiles, electronic data forces, cyber threat units and signals intelligence.
China's military is set to create a new 'Space Force' to strengthen its presence in low-Earth orbit. While there has been no official announcement, Washington Times sources claim the Space Force will be created within the People's Liberation Army
According to an in-depth report by the Washington Times, the move signals an increasing readiness by China for space warfare.
Chinese news outlet Bowen Press said earlier this month that the Space Support Forces will include three branches - strategic missiles, electronic warfare and space forces.
Recently, China conducted its sixth test of a hypersonic strike vehicle as well as a series of anti-satellite missile trials.
Rick Fisher, a Chinese military affairs specialist told the Washington Times that other space weapons may include laser-armed spacecraft, low Earth orbit bombers and military space shuttles.
Fisher says the main mission of the new Space Force is 'to achieve control of low earth orbit in order to defeat the United States on Earth.'
Earth's orbit is looking more and more like the planet's surface - heavily armed and primed for war.
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Experts claim China has previously tested a satellite interceptor under the guise of its exploration programme. Pictured, the Changzheng-2F rocket with the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft carrying three Chinese astronauts on 11 June 2013
A growing number of 'inspection' satellites lurk in orbit, possibly awaiting commands to sneak up on and disable or destroy other satellites.
Down on the surface, more and more warships and ground installations pack powerful rockets that, with accurate guidance, could reach into orbit to destroy enemy spacecraft.
CHINA'S SPACE PROGRAMME
China's military-backed space programme has made methodical progress in a relatively short time, although it lags far behind the United States and Russia in technology and experience.
China sent its first astronaut into space in 2003, becoming the third nation after Russia and the United States to achieve manned space travel independently.
In 2006, it sent its first probe to the moon. China plans to open a space station around 2020 and send an astronaut to the moon after that.
'They are taking their time with getting to know about how to fly humans into space, how to build space stations ... how to explore the solar system, especially the moon and Mars,' said Peter Bond, consultant editor for Jane's Space Systems and Industry.
'They are making good strides, and I think over the next 10, 20 years they'll certainly be rivalling Russia and America in this area and maybe overtaking them in some areas.'
A war in orbit could wreck the delicate satellite constellations that the world relies on for navigation, communication, scientific research and military surveillance.
Widespread orbital destruction could send humanity through a technological time warp.
'You go back to World War Two,' Air Force General John Hyten, in charge of U.S. Space Command, told 60 Minutes. 'You go back to the Industrial Age.'
It's hard to say exactly how many weapons are in orbit. That's because many spacecraft are 'dual use.'
They have peaceful functions and potential military applications. Until the moment it attacks, however, the assassin spacecraft might appear to be harmless.
And its dual use gives its operators political cover. The United States possesses more space weaponry than any other country, yet denies that any of its satellites warrant the term.
China's 2007 anti-satellite test, and a similar trial in early 2013, proved that Beijing can hit a low satellite with a rocket.
In 2010, the Chinese space agency launched a cluster of small space vehicles, including two named SJ-6F and SJ-12, that slammed into each other in orbit, seemingly on purpose.
In July 2013, China deployed a small inspection spacecraft, designated SY-7, in low orbit.
The tiny SY-7 with its remote-controlled claw could be orbital repair or inspection vehicle — or it could be a weapon.
But China lacks the space- and ground-based sensors to accurately steer these weapons toward their targets.
Where the United States can count on allies to host parts of a global sensor network, China has few formal allies and can only deploy space-awareness systems inside its own borders, on ships at sea or in space.
The Chinese military can watch the skies over East Asia, but is mostly blind elsewhere. A new Space Force could change that.
Is China preparing for a SPACE war? Nation may be creating a military unit to 'achieve control of low Earth orbit', claim experts
- The Space Force will be created within the People's Liberation Army
- It will include nuclear missiles, electronic forces and cyber threat units
- Recently, China conducted its sixth test of a hypersonic strike vehicle
- The claim was made by Washington Times sources, and there has been no official announcement by the government
Published: 08:16 +11:00, 1 January 2016 | Updated: 10:22 +11:00, 1 January 2016
China's military is set to create a new 'Space Force' to strengthen its presence in low-Earth orbit.
While there has been no official announcement, Washington Times sources claim the Space Force will be created within the People's Liberation Army.
It will include nuclear missiles, electronic data forces, cyber threat units and signals intelligence.
China's military is set to create a new 'Space Force' to strengthen its presence in low-Earth orbit. While there has been no official announcement, Washington Times sources claim the Space Force will be created within the People's Liberation Army
According to an in-depth report by the Washington Times, the move signals an increasing readiness by China for space warfare.
Chinese news outlet Bowen Press said earlier this month that the Space Support Forces will include three branches - strategic missiles, electronic warfare and space forces.
Recently, China conducted its sixth test of a hypersonic strike vehicle as well as a series of anti-satellite missile trials.
Rick Fisher, a Chinese military affairs specialist told the Washington Times that other space weapons may include laser-armed spacecraft, low Earth orbit bombers and military space shuttles.
Fisher says the main mission of the new Space Force is 'to achieve control of low earth orbit in order to defeat the United States on Earth.'
Earth's orbit is looking more and more like the planet's surface - heavily armed and primed for war.
+2
Experts claim China has previously tested a satellite interceptor under the guise of its exploration programme. Pictured, the Changzheng-2F rocket with the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft carrying three Chinese astronauts on 11 June 2013
A growing number of 'inspection' satellites lurk in orbit, possibly awaiting commands to sneak up on and disable or destroy other satellites.
Down on the surface, more and more warships and ground installations pack powerful rockets that, with accurate guidance, could reach into orbit to destroy enemy spacecraft.
CHINA'S SPACE PROGRAMME
China's military-backed space programme has made methodical progress in a relatively short time, although it lags far behind the United States and Russia in technology and experience.
China sent its first astronaut into space in 2003, becoming the third nation after Russia and the United States to achieve manned space travel independently.
In 2006, it sent its first probe to the moon. China plans to open a space station around 2020 and send an astronaut to the moon after that.
'They are taking their time with getting to know about how to fly humans into space, how to build space stations ... how to explore the solar system, especially the moon and Mars,' said Peter Bond, consultant editor for Jane's Space Systems and Industry.
'They are making good strides, and I think over the next 10, 20 years they'll certainly be rivalling Russia and America in this area and maybe overtaking them in some areas.'
A war in orbit could wreck the delicate satellite constellations that the world relies on for navigation, communication, scientific research and military surveillance.
Widespread orbital destruction could send humanity through a technological time warp.
'You go back to World War Two,' Air Force General John Hyten, in charge of U.S. Space Command, told 60 Minutes. 'You go back to the Industrial Age.'
It's hard to say exactly how many weapons are in orbit. That's because many spacecraft are 'dual use.'
They have peaceful functions and potential military applications. Until the moment it attacks, however, the assassin spacecraft might appear to be harmless.
And its dual use gives its operators political cover. The United States possesses more space weaponry than any other country, yet denies that any of its satellites warrant the term.
China's 2007 anti-satellite test, and a similar trial in early 2013, proved that Beijing can hit a low satellite with a rocket.
In 2010, the Chinese space agency launched a cluster of small space vehicles, including two named SJ-6F and SJ-12, that slammed into each other in orbit, seemingly on purpose.
In July 2013, China deployed a small inspection spacecraft, designated SY-7, in low orbit.
The tiny SY-7 with its remote-controlled claw could be orbital repair or inspection vehicle — or it could be a weapon.
But China lacks the space- and ground-based sensors to accurately steer these weapons toward their targets.
Where the United States can count on allies to host parts of a global sensor network, China has few formal allies and can only deploy space-awareness systems inside its own borders, on ships at sea or in space.
The Chinese military can watch the skies over East Asia, but is mostly blind elsewhere. A new Space Force could change that.
