TLDR:
- Military leaders warn a Chinese space attack could unfold without warning, crippling U.S. satellites before America realizes it’s under attack
- High-stakes debate intensifies over whether U.S. should deploy offensive weapons in space as Russia races ahead with nuclear anti-satellite capabilities
- Space Force conference this week will address how to protect orbital assets from adversaries with increasingly dangerous space capabilities
- Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense shield expected operational by mid-2028
The nightmare scenario starts small: Communications go dark over Taiwan. Spy satellites stop responding. GPS becomes spotty across the Pacific.
“We don’t realize at first that we are under attack,” warns Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, describing how a 21st-century space war could unfold.
By the time American forces recognize the threat, Chinese troops could already be moving on Taiwan.
That frightening prospect is fueling an intense debate in national security circles over whether the U.S. should deploy offensive weapons in space. The discussion will take center stage at this week’s Spacepower 2025 conference in Orlando, where military leaders and defense industry executives gather.
Russia is believed to be developing nuclear-armed anti-satellite weapons. China has invested heavily in three types of ground-based anti-satellite missiles and robots capable of destroying satellites, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
“While China has continued to actively pursue both offensive and defensive counterspace capabilities, the United States has refrained from developing an offensive space program,” the commission’s report says.
The Trump administration argues America remains the world’s space leader. Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said the Golden Dome missile defense shield will be operational by mid-2028.
Read more:
• Is the U.S. ready for an era of space warfare?
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
