Space is no longer merely a realm of exploration or telecommunications—it has become a true battlefield. China is experimenting with advanced “dogfighting” techniques, a kind of orbital aerial combat in which satellites move with precision to outmaneuver, chase, and potentially neutralize one another. This technological leap alarms the United States Space Force, which is increasingly aware of the fierce competition for control of Earth’s orbit.
According to General Michael Guetlein, deputy head of space operations for the Space Force–the space branch of the American Armed Forces established in December 2019–recent satellite observations have revealed Chinese maneuvers of surprising complexity.
Five objects, including the experimental satellites Shiyan-24C and Shijian-6 05A/B, executed coordinated and controlled movements, suggesting that Beijing is refining tactics for advanced and hostile operations.
The impact of these maneuvers is significant. Traditionally, “dogfighting” refers to aerial combat between fighter jets, where agility and speed dictate the outcome. In space, however, the rules are different. Without an atmosphere, every movement relies entirely on thrusters, making satellite duels a matter of extreme precision, coordination, and calculated timing.
But “dogfighting” is only one of the emerging threats. According to Guetlein, “The Middle Kingdom” and Russia are developing even more insidious technologies, including parasitic satellites capable of stealthily approaching enemy space systems and interfering with their operation, devices equipped with mechanical arms able to capture or deflect opposing satellites rendering them inoperative, and space nuclear weapons designed to generate devastating electromagnetic pulses capable of disabling entire satellite constellations.
The global strategic balance could be revolutionized if these technologies were deployed in a conflict. For years, the U.S. has maintained a clear advantage in space, but Guetlein warns that the gap could shrink drastically. This scenario is pushing the Space Force to demand increased funding and a revision of its strategies, all with the goal of ensuring “space supremacy.”
Whoever manages to dominate Earth’s orbit will hold a crucial advantage in the wars of the future.
