A Chinese laboratory has made bold claims about its potential to neutralize American warships using what they refer to as ‘space weapons,’ specifically low-flying satellites, following a simulated hypersonic missile strike. In a research paper published in the Chinese journal Shipboard Electronic Countermeasures in December, scientist Liu Shichang detailed a computer-simulated assault on the US fleet, stating, “Commanding height has always been a pivotal tactic in war since ancient times. With the evolution of the concept of war and the advancement of technology, space has become a new commanding height fiercely contested by the world’s military powers.”
Liu, affiliated with the secretive Science and Technology on Electronic Information Control Laboratory, a facility working on electronic warfare equipment for the Chinese military, emphasized the strategic significance of space. According to him, three satellites would be sufficient to attack an aircraft carrier group, while 28 satellites could enable a ‘global strike.’ He stated, “Electronic warfare in outer space using low-orbit satellite constellations has become an important means of information warfare.”
The simulated scenario involved launching missiles at a US aircraft carrier from a distance of 750 miles and employing low-flying satellites to obstruct the ship’s radars. This tactic rendered the ship incapable of detecting the missiles until they were just 30 miles away. The team suggested that these satellites had ‘unique advantages‘ due to their ability to operate beyond national boundaries and their feasibility for engineering, owing to their low altitudes that result in minimal power loss and lower transmitter power requirements.
The researchers asserted that China is actively advancing related research and applications. The simulation demonstrated how the People’s Liberation Army could utilize ‘space weapons‘ to target the American fleet. The electronic warfare satellites, operating in low orbit, reflected radar signals at the US warship’s post-missile launch. This made the missiles undetectable amid background noise, enabling them to close in for ‘terminal manoeuvres’ and penetration until the target was destroyed.
It’s noteworthy that the article did not specify the exact type of platform or missile used in the simulation. Additionally, the study suggested that the US and Russia are also exploring space weapons for similar purposes.
In a similar simulation conducted in May of the previous year, China claimed to have destroyed the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, using 24 hypersonic anti-ship missiles in 20 battles. Analysts, however, questioned the motive behind publicly releasing the results of a war game simulation, emphasizing that effective war games are focused on learning rather than winning or losing.
