Security News > 2022 > September > China can destroy US space assets, Space Force ops nominee warns

The Biden-nominated chief of space operations for the USA's Space Force rates China his greatest challenge, as the Middle Kingdom has developed technologies to destroy space assets.

"The most immediate threat, in my opinion, is the pace with which our strategic challengers - first and foremost the Chinese - are aggressively pursuing capabilities that can disrupt, degrade and ultimately even destroy our satellite capabilities and disrupt our ground infrastructure," Space Force Lieutenant General B. Chance Saltzman said during a nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week.

China has not been shy about its ability to act in space.

In 2021 US Space Command commander General James Dickinson claimed China had launched a satellite sporting a grappling arm that could be used to capture and harm other orbiting equipment.

Space Force is also "Investing in tools and training that will make our cyber workforce more efficient and effective in performing their cyber defense roles; however, with the growing number of cyber threats and the expansion of critical networks, I believe there will be a future need for more cyber experts in the Space Force."

Saltzman, who was nominated by President Biden and seeks confirmation from Congress, said he plans to work with Congress to make sure Space Force gets the cash, tools, training, and people to ensure the organization can defend the United States appropriately.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/09/16/china_working_to_destroy_us/