Get ready for space war: US says China, Russia have deployed jammers in space, Beijing practicing satellite dogfighting

China is practicing satellite dogfighting in space, according to CNN. The report, quoting the US Space Force, also said that China and Russia have deployed jammers in space.

According to CNN, Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, vice chief of space operations for the US Space Force, revealed that they have observed five Chinese satellites maneuvering around each other in a coordinated manner—a practice he described as dogfighting in space. These included three Shiyan-24C satellites and two Shijian-6 05A/B experimental satellites.

China’s Expanding Space Capabilities

While China has publicly committed to the peaceful use of space, its 2019 national defense white paper emphasized securing its interests in outer space. The US has long been monitoring China’s rapid advances in space technology, including capabilities that could interfere with other nations' satellites.

According to experts, these close-range maneuvers—often called rendezvous and proximity operations—can serve peaceful purposes like satellite maintenance and debris removal but may also be used to disable or destroy adversary satellites.

Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project, told CNN that proximity operations could involve jamming, using lasers to disable surveillance satellites, or even physically capturing and relocating them. While there is no confirmed evidence that China has used such tactics in military operations, analysts warn that its growing space presence could challenge the US and its allies, the report noted.

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Rising Space Warfare Concerns

Both Russia and the US have conducted similar satellite maneuvers, but the scale of China’s recent operations has raised concerns. The US Space Force believes that China and