China’s Space “Dogfighters” and Kill Mesh: Practicing to Destroy U.S. Satellites and Ships at Sea

China is conducting increasingly sophisticated satellite maneuvers in orbit, essentially rehearsing attacks on U.S. space-based infrastructure critical for navigation, communication, and missile targeting. China’s expanding space capabilities also extend to what military officials call a “kill mesh”, a networked targeting system that connects multiple sensors, platforms, and weapons in a decentralized web where data flows in multiple directions and engagements can occur from several nodes simultaneously. Apart from disrupting U.S. satellites and space assets, this kill mesh can also be used to target U.S. ships at sea.

At the McAleese defense conference in March 2025, U.S. Space Force Vice Chief of Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein reported that five Chinese space objects, three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Shijian-6 intelligence-gathering spacecraft, were observed executing synchronized, controlled maneuvers in low Earth orbit.

These exercises, described by Space Force as “dogfighting in space,” are not routine operations. “They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to conduct on-orbit operations from one satellite to another,” Guetlein warned. In the general’s estimation, these satellites are training to disable or destroy American space assets.

Beyond physical attacks, China has also expanded its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. Its arsenal includes jamming systems targeting GPS, radar, and multiple communications platforms. In 2015, China used GPS jamming to interfere with U.S. surveillance flights over the Spratly Islands, an early example of its willingness to disrupt American drone networks and space-based positioning systems.

Guetlein further cautioned that China and Russia are fielding satellites with advanced offensive capabilities, including grappling arms, anti-satellite payloads, and “nesting doll” devices, satellites that can release secondary, hostile systems. Some Chinese satellites now “shadow” U.S. systems, behaving provocatively and violating international norms, heightening the risk of escalation in orbit.

Since testing a direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile in 2007 and launching a geosynchronous ASAT in 2013, China has rapidly expanded its space-based military capabilities. The creation of its independent Aerospace Force in April 2024, placed directly under the Central Military Commission, marked a decisive step in transforming space into an operational warfighting domain. The PLA Aerospace Force consolidates all space-based C4ISR systems, launch sites, and military satellites, representing China’s commitment to space as a primary theater of operations.

One of the most significant developments is China’s evolution from a traditional “kill chain” model to what U.S. military officials describe as a “kill mesh” or “kill web.” Gen. Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations, explained that Chinese ISR capabilities (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) have become “very capable,” shifting from sequential operations to dynamic, networked systems.

While traditional kill chains follow a linear sequence, Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, Assess, that can break down if any link is disrupted, kill meshes connect multiple sensors, platforms, and weapon systems in a decentralized web where data flows in multiple directions and engagement can occur from several nodes simultaneously.

Gen. Stephen Whiting of U.S. Space Command warned that China has constructed an extensive satellite network designed to detect, track, and target U.S. forces across all domains. Since 2018, China has more than tripled its on-orbit intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites, with General Whiting noting that “China is moving at a breathtaking speed” and has “built a kill web over the Pacific Ocean to find, fix, track and, yes, target United States and allied military capabilities.”

China has added over 400 satellites in the past two years, with more than half capable of tracking objects on Earth. General Bradley Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, stated that “The PRC has more than 470 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites feeding a robust sensor-shooter kill web.” Satellites concentrated over the Indo-Pacific region continuously feed intelligence to Chinese military commanders, enabling precise targeting of distant assets and complicating Western military operations.

Chinese researchers have developed advanced tracking algorithms capable of identifying U.S. warships anywhere in the world using low-resolution satellite imagery, analyzing wake patterns as unique signatures, even when ships appear smaller than a single pixel. The launch of Yaogan-41, an optical surveillance satellite in geostationary orbit, provides round-the-clock surveillance of the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Combined with AI algorithms and computational resources, this capability makes it difficult for the United States and allies to hide vessels larger than an automobile in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. China has also deployed the Liaowang-1, a next-generation maritime space tracking vessel that extends monitoring capabilities to U.S. and allied naval movements, space launches, and satellite trajectories on a near-global scale.

Colonel Raj Agrawal, commander of the U.S. Space Force Space Delta 2 unit, noted that “The Chinese have demonstrated clear intent with what they are fielding in space, and that intent is for the projection of power in the Indo-Pacific.

The Chinese are posturing forces in such a way to make the Indo-Pacific prohibitive in terms of U.S. and allied freedom of maneuver.” Beijing’s space-enabled capabilities could be used to target Taiwan directly, expanding the range of its ballistic missiles to a distance that makes intervention more challenging if America responded to an invasion of Taiwan.

China’s anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities have advanced significantly as well. The SC-19 system, based on a modified DF-21 ballistic missile with a kinetic kill vehicle, is now believed to be fully operational. U.S. intelligence assesses that the PLA is actively training with SC-19 missiles launched from mobile TEL platforms, giving China the ability to strike low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites at altitudes up to 2,000 kilometers. China is also reportedly developing ASAT weapons capable of reaching geosynchronous orbit (GEO), threatening the entire range of U.S. and allied satellite assets.

Separately, Chinese researchers have developed a next-generation electronic warfare system using 6G technology. Led by Professor Deng Lei at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the project reportedly enables unprecedented jamming and communications disruption, targeting advanced radar systems like the AN/APG-85 used in U.S. F-35 stealth fighters.

As China rapidly advances its technology, space is becoming the next theater of war. America must continue to invest and innovate to prevent China from establishing dominance.

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