US Air Force General John Hyten warns that countries such as China and Russia are planning to shoot down US military satellites with missiles, spacecraft and lasers, as he pleaded with Congress to increase spending to protect these satellites. He added that foreign nations want to curb US space systems and the threat was now at tipping point. The warning comes amid a growing concern about China's plans for its own satellite program, which is expected to launch in 2018. Dyke D. Weatherington, director of unmanned warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance at the Pentagon, said eight national security satellites were launched in 2015, including tactical and strategic communications, and navigation, position, and timing satellites. A battle in orbit could also wreck the delicate satellite constellations that the world relies on for navigation, scientific research, communications and military surveillance.
US Air Force General John Hyten warns that countries such as China and Russia are planning to shoot down US military satellites with missiles, spacecraft and lasers, as he pleaded with Congress to increase spending to protect these satellites. He added that foreign nations want to curb US space systems and the threat was now at tipping point. The warning comes amid a growing concern about China's plans for its own satellite program, which is expected to launch in 2018. A battle in orbit could also wreck the delicate satellite constellations that the world relies on for navigation, scientific research, communications and military surveillance.