ABSTRACT
China and Russia have a long history of developing space weapons. They have demonstrated a capability to kinetically intercept satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) from the ground. China recently demonstrated a new capability to hide in the “graveyard” beyond geostationary orbit (GEO) and re-emerge to grapple a satellite in GEO. Additionally, it has the ability to use ground-based lasers to dazzle satellites in LEO. China and Russia have the ability to conduct radiofrequency (RF) jamming from mobile platforms against communication satellites in LEO. Alarmingly, Russia in 2024 demonstrated the intent to place nuclear weapons in space shattering the Outer Space Treaty’s prohibition of placing weapons of mass destruction in space. This notion had survived until now, with Russia’s desire to negate the perceived threat from both US and commercial megaconstellations. This chapter examines China and Russia’s ASAT concepts and places them in the context of their respective military space doctrines which threatens international space security.
