An Arms Race in Orbit: Washington and Beijing Prepare Space Fighters

A new arms race is taking shape hundreds of kilometers above Earth. The United States and China are developing spacecraft that could chase, covertly inspect and physically or electronically disable hostile objects in orbit.

The competition centers on uncrewed space vehicles, described as orbital “fighters.” In June, a Chinese spaceplane released a small satellite in a crowded orbital region containing civilian and military infrastructure. Data from LeoLabs, which monitors orbital traffic, indicated that the satellite performed a precise circling maneuver around another Chinese spacecraft before moving back toward its carrier. Beijing has not explained the purpose of the operation.

The Pentagon is also operating a highly classified uncrewed space vehicle with similar capabilities. U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman called China’s activities “serious” and pointed to the development of Chinese anti-satellite systems, including both ground-based weapons and systems deployed directly in space.

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Patent records, procurement documents and academic publications linked to the Chinese military indicate that engineers are working on autonomous pursuit algorithms and on-orbit refueling techniques. Chinese spacecraft have already demonstrated close-formation maneuvering, which Pentagon analysts cited by Reuters call “orbital dogfights.” They have also tested physically docking with inactive satellites and moving them into different trajectories.

Washington is responding with its own capabilities. The U.S. Space Force has placed the Meadowlands electromagnetic system into operational service. The weapon is designed to disrupt communications within hostile constellations without creating debris. A network of systems in orbit is also planned as part of President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile-defense program.

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