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SecurityQuiet 14d · day 15

US intelligence warns China could deploy orbital directed-energy weapons by late 2020s

A Defense Intelligence Agency report reveals China's spaceplane development and timeline for space-based weapons that could threaten US military satellites.

newest coverage 13d agosummary written 9d ago6 pieces Google NewsNewswires

What to know

  • US Defence Intelligence Agency report warns China could deploy orbital directed-energy weapons by late 2020s.
  • Report includes rare satellite imagery of China's reusable spaceplane with shuttle-like design, credited to Maxar from 2024.
  • Directed-energy weapons pose threat to US military satellites critical for communications, navigation, intelligence, and missile warning systems.
  • Assessment indicates China is expanding capabilities to track American forces in space.

“A rare satellite image of China's secretive spaceplane has appeared in a new US intelligence report that warned Beijing was expanding its ability to track American forces and could deploy space-based directed-energy weapons by the late 2020s.”

SCMP reporting · South China Morning Post

US Defence Intelligence Agency Intelligence agency issuing assessmentChina Subject of intelligence assessmentMaxar Satellite imagery provider

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 3 pieces in 4h at Oct 28, 4 AM; 6 pieces over 15 days (6 articles) Oct 27, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 27, 8 PM — quietOct 28, 12 AM — quietOct 28, 4 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 2, Google News 1Oct 28, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 28, 12 PM — quietOct 28, 4 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 12 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 12 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 12 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — quietOct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietNov 7, 3 AM — quietNov 7, 7 AM — quietNov 7, 11 AM — quietNov 7, 3 PM — quietNov 7, 7 PM — quietNov 7, 11 PM — quietNov 8, 3 AM — quietNov 8, 7 AM — quietNov 8, 11 AM — quietNov 8, 3 PM — quietNov 8, 7 PM — quietNov 8, 11 PM — quietNov 9, 3 AM — quietNov 9, 7 AM — quietNov 9, 11 AM — quietNov 9, 3 PM — quietNov 9, 7 PM — quietNov 9, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 3 PM — quietToday, 7 PM — quiet 123
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  1. 3

    Security analysts highlight vulnerability of US military satellites to orbital lasers

    Analysis of the threat described the directed-energy weapons as capable of blinding US satellites and exposing significant vulnerabilities in US military satellite operations, particularly systems for communication, navigation, intelligence, and missile warning.

    1. 1 outlet China may deploy orbital lasers to blind US satellites by late 2020s: Report

      first by Times of India, 13d ago

  2. 2

    DIA report details China's spaceplane and space-based weapons timeline

    The US Defence Intelligence Agency report, published Sunday, included rare satellite imagery of China's secretive reusable spaceplane showing its shuttle-like design and solar arrays. The report warned Beijing could deploy space-based directed-energy weapons by the late 2020s and is expanding its ability to track American forces.

    1. 3 outlets US warns China is expanding its space toolkit with spaceplane and energy weapons

      first by South China Morning Post, 14d ago · also SCMP China, SCMP

  3. 1

    US intelligence report warns of Chinese orbital directed-energy weapons

    US intelligence agencies issued warnings that China could field directed-energy weapons in orbit by the late 2020s. The report highlights Chinese expansion of space capabilities and the threat to American military operations.

    1. 1 outlet China could field directed-energy weapons in orbit by late 2020s, U.S. intelligence says

      first by SpaceNews, 15d ago