There is fear that the Chinese practice satellite dogfights.

Satellites play an important role in the military world. They can send target data to troops. And those systems allow commanders to control battles from another side of the world. 

That's why those military satellites are good targets for opponents. The ground-based anti-satellite missiles can destroy low-flying satellites. The radar satellites show their capacity. And those satellites are attractive targets for large-size anti-radiation missiles. Those missiles can be like the maximum-size version of the high-speed anti-radiation missiles HARM. 

That is normally used against radars and ECM systems. Also, photo-recon and communication satellites are good targets. The systems might have multiple optical, active radar, and semi-active homing systems that help them find their targets.  

Things like miniature shuttles, tell that the war is going to space. Those small, remote, or AI-controlled systems along with satellite swarms that are spaceborne drone swarms are tools that can endanger the regular satellites in space if war begins. 

And that's why. Those missiles and other systems are things, why some satellites will be equipped with anti-missile systems. Those weapons are planned to destroy incoming missiles. But they are useful against other satellites. 

We should know that China is interested in space military exploitation. Chinese satellites practiced at the Earth orbiter maneuvering in situations where they planned to use as killer satellites. Those satellites might use manipulator arms to throw targeted satellites into the atmosphere. 

But there is also quite good evidence that the Chinese test also things like centrifugal, or conventional machine guns, lasers, EMP weapons, and other types of tools to destroy other satellites. Laser weapons are things that make satellites effective tools against other satellites.

There are also tested capsules that close targeted satellites inside them. And then those capsules can carry satellites into the atmosphere. Or those capsules can have a small gun that pushes the captured satellite to Earth. Those capsules can also steal satellites from orbiters and return them to Earth. Those systems can return space junk or they can steal hostile satellites for research. 

The kill systems must not use things like recoil weapons. And that's why lasers are suitable for military satellites. The laser- or EMP systems can damage targeted satellites very badly. Those systems can also leave the targeted satellites in one piece. And that leaves those trajectories free for their own operations. If the ASAT weapon breaks a satellite it leaves thousands of small objects to orbiter. 

https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/5-chinese-satellites-practiced-dogfighting-in-space-space-force-says/

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/03/china-practicing-dogfighting-space-space-force-says/403863/

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