ABSTRACT
Space has become the new frontier of the arms race. The superpowers are poised to take their arms competition into this new arena by placing weapons in space. Both superpowers already possess limited capabilities for attacking some satellites. These are known as anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons. ASAT weapons are a part of a system for destroying, damaging or disturbing the normal working of, or changing the flight path of, artificial earth satellites. Satellites are the eyes and ears of the military. About 75 per cent of the 2 200 or more satellites so far launched have some military application. Since at least 1963, the Soviet Union has been developing an ASAT system to damage enemy satellites. Both superpowers have been developing ASAT systems for the destruction of low-orbit satellites. The Soviet system relies on hunter-killer satellites, while the United States development uses an infrared guided missile which can be launched from an F-15 fighter.
