The leading countries of the world have developed groups of spacecraft for various purposes, including those used in the interests of the armies. Naturally, military satellites of one country can pose a threat to other states, and therefore become a cause for concern. The American edition of The National Interest tried to establish what the Russian so-called. satellites-inspectors, and what threats are associated with them.
On August 24, under The Buzz, the publication published Russia's 'Killer' Space Satellites: A Real Threat or a Paper Tiger? - "Russian satellite killers: a real threat or a paper tiger?" The author of the material, Sebastian Roblin, studied the available data and tried to answer the question raised in the title of the article.
At the beginning of the publication, the author recalled the statements of the recent past. A few weeks ago, during an international disarmament conference in Geneva, US spokesman Ilem Poblet accused Russia of building and launching spacecraft designed to destroy other satellites. However, Moscow denies these accusations and claims that it is about satellites-inspectors. Such vehicles can maneuver and change orbit, which allows them to pass next to other space technology, carrying out its diagnostics or even repairs.
S. Roblin notes that both of these versions may be true. A highly maneuverable spacecraft capable of approaching and repairing other equipment can also disable satellites. In accordance with international agreements, full-fledged combat platforms with weapons are not yet deployed in space. At the same time, the solution of combat missions can be entrusted to satellites-inspectors with special capabilities.
According to available data, since 2013 Russia has launched 4 inspection satellites into orbit. They belong to the "Cosmos" series and have numbers 2491, 2499, 2504 and 2519. The lack of open information about the goals and objectives, as well as the specific nature of the operation of such devices became the reason for the recent statements of I. Polet. American specialists observed how Russian inspection satellites maneuver and pass alongside other vehicles in different orbits.
For example, in 2014, Russia, without warning the world community, sent the Kosmos-2499 spacecraft into orbit. The atmosphere of secrecy has led to the emergence of versions according to which this product is in fact a "killer satellite". At the same time, Russian sources claimed that this device is a platform for testing a plasma / ion engine (this technology looks as impressive as its name), which, however, did not contradict the version of the satellite's combat mission. In 2013, Kosmos-2491 was launched into orbit. It is noteworthy that its launch was not covered in open sources, although three others, unclassified, went into space with this device.
Last year, the Russian spacecraft Kosmos-2504 approached one of the large debris of a Chinese satellite that was recently destroyed by the PLA using a special rocket. S. Roblin notes that the considered satellites of the "Kosmos" family are usually inactive for a long time, after which they begin to make sudden maneuvers. This feature of their work is the reason for various suspicions and versions.
In June 2017, the launch of the Kosmos-2519 inspector satellite took place. Soon the spacecraft "Kosmos-2521" separated from it, which, in turn, dropped the product "Kosmos-2523". In the summer of this year, three special satellites made a number of strange and unusual maneuvers. Such activity in orbit has become another reason for accusations from the United States.
S. Roblin asks the question: how exactly is the "assassin satellite" supposed to destroy the assigned targets? The simplest methods are the use of mechanical manipulators and a banal ram. However, other, less rough options are also possible. Enemy satellites can be hit with lasers, small kinetic damaging elements, or with the use of electronic warfare.
The author notes that Russia is not the only country that has satellites with the possibility of combat use, at least through the use of kinetic energy. For example, the US space constellation also includes inspection satellites, which, however, are built using more advanced technologies. Currently, the Phoenix satellite is being developed, which should be able to carry many small devices for various purposes. With the help of the latter, it is proposed to disrupt the operation of enemy vehicles or even "steal" them.
Also, the United States Air Force has a pair of X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle orbital aircraft that are already undergoing testing. The real tasks and capabilities of such a technique are still unknown, which leads to the emergence of various rumors and speculations. In particular, it can be assumed that such a technique, among other things, will be able to fight the satellites of a potential enemy.
S. Roblin suggests that China is also looking for opportunities to arm its spacecraft. In 2013, the Chinese space industry launched the Shijian-15 satellite, equipped with high-precision thrusters and manipulators. According to open data, such a satellite was intended to collect space debris. Also, with its help, it was supposed to conduct experiments on refueling and repairing other vehicles directly in orbit. In the course of one of the experiments, the passage of the Shajian-15 satellite was observed in the immediate vicinity of the Shijian-7. In this regard, a version was expressed according to which the new device is also capable of "hijacking" space technology.
China and the United States have already tested their anti-satellite missiles, launched from the ground and striking targets in orbit. Russia, as far as we know, is also developing such weapons. S. Roblin believes that the deployment of specialized killer satellites in orbit is more difficult than the creation and operation of ground-based anti-satellite missiles. At the same time, orbital combat systems have certain advantages. First of all, working with high accuracy, the spacecraft will solve the task without the formation of a large number of debris and fragments that the rocket can leave.
Thus, the use of special satellites makes it possible to eliminate the unforeseen consequences associated with large space debris. The author recalls that scientists are really afraid of the development of events similar to that shown in the movie "Gravity", when a destroyed satellite launches a real chain reaction from the explosions of other vehicles.
The author notes that the field of dual-use spacecraft is rather difficult to regulate in terms of regulations and laws. However, some projects provide for the use of missiles, lasers and guns - is this not prohibited by agreements? S. Roblin immediately recalls that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the launch of only weapons of mass destruction into space.
However, there is an unofficial international norm according to which no weapons are sent into space at all. It is generally observed, but there have been some exceptions. For example, in the 1980s, the United States spent a lot of time and energy on its Strategic Defense Initiative, which included the deployment of many missile defense combat satellites in orbit. Nevertheless, a full-fledged missile defense system based on spacecraft was never built.
The Soviet Union, responding to the American SDI, organized the launch into orbit of the Polyus apparatus - a model of the Skif system, armed with a 1 MW laser. The battle laser was intended to destroy American satellites. Due to malfunctions of the inertial navigation system, the "Polyus" could not enter the specified orbit and collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. In addition, S. Roblin recalls that in the seventies, a 30-mm automatic revolving cannon was installed on the Soviet Almaz orbital stations. They even carried out firing tests with firing at a target satellite.
Russia is currently insisting on toughening international norms on the placement of weapons in outer space. Such ideas are promoted through the UN Disarmament Commission, which previously created modern norms on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as on the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons. A set of measures called "Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space" (PAROS) is proposed. Also with the support of China, the Russian side put forward an additional proposal known as PWTT.
Washington is in no hurry to support the Russian proposal so far. This position is based on the fact that the United States, in their opinion, has an advantage in the field of space groupings, and Russia and China intend to fight the satellites of a potential enemy using ground-based weapons. The latter, most likely, will not be prohibited, and therefore the United States does not see the point in supporting PWTT. The United States points out that for PAROS to be more effective, it is necessary to ban the use of ground-based anti-satellite weapons.
S. Roblin points out that the UN Disarmament Council has been virtually ineffective over the past two decades. In addition, due to the alphabetical list-based chairmanship system, the council was recently chaired by Syria, which allegedly uses chemical weapons itself.
The author believes that in the foreseeable future, a war in space will do without human casualties. At the same time, its impact will be acutely felt by the civilian population on Earth. Satellite navigation, wireless communication, etc. systems that use spacecraft, which already seem to be an essential part of everyday life, are subject to certain risks. The failure of these systems will affect not only the military, but also ordinary people.
The Pentagon, as well as the Russian and Chinese commanders, believe that in the event of a high-intensity conflict, they will not have to rely on navigation and communications satellites, which are actively used in peacetime. So, the GPS navigation system has found application in the creation of guided weapons, but new samples of this kind are already being developed using backup inertial navigation. This will make it possible to solve combat missions in conditions of destruction or suppression of navigation satellites.
The recent statements of officials in Geneva, according to S. Roblin, underline the fact that an arms race has begun in space, which, however, remains secretive. Leading countries create their own military space groupings and use both specialized systems and dual-use developments for this. Various methods of suppressing enemy groupings have been studied, and not all of them provide for the direct destruction of a satellite by a direct strike.
The author of The National Interest believes that the United States, Russia and China could sign a reliable new agreement against the militarization of outer space, and this, among other things, would save them billions of dollars. However, at present, these countries, apparently, do not want to sign such an agreement, since they plan to build up their space groupings and increase anti-satellite capabilities. Leading states plan to ensure their security by creating asymmetric advantages over potential adversaries.
