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Defensenews.com claims the test was done on July 15. According to an official report from the US Space Command (SPACECOM), the Russian reconnaissance satellite Cosmos 2534 has launched another object into space in the vicinity of another Russian satellite, which is not in line with the official capabilities of the satellite. US officials have previously predicted that a similar object ejected from a satellite could be used as a high-speed cartridge capable of destroying other satellites.
“The Russian satellite system used in this orbital weapons test is the same satellite system that was a concern earlier this year, when the satellite was targeted at a United States government satellite.” This is further proof that Russia continues to develop and test space combat systems, which is in line with Russia’s public military doctrine of using weapons that would threaten American and allied space teams, “said Gen. John Raymond, director SPACECOM executive.
This nondestructive test is similar to previous tests conducted by Russia, in which Russian satellites launched smaller objects into space from the satellite into orbit. The best-known and best-described case occurred in 2017, when a Russian reconnaissance satellite, Cosmos 2519, launched a subsatellite called Cosmos 2521.
“It just came to our attention then. The sub-satellite launched another object, the Cosmos 2523, into space at a high relative speed of 250 km / h. I don’t want to be too precise about what we’re talking about, but the Cosmos 2521 has demonstrated the ability of being in a position next to another satellite to launch a cartridge into it. ” In April, Chris Ford, deputy secretary of the US Office for International Security and Disarmament, explained.
This ability of Russian satellites to shoot in space has been a concern for several officials charged with ensuring the security of the US, especially alongside him, evaluating the ability of Russian satellites to align with US satellites, as happened in 2019. in November and December, when the Russian satellites Cosmos 2542 and Cosmos 2543 (and the latter had just carried out a dangerous “shot” test on July 15) maneuvered alongside the US satellites.
The spacecraft, which may have an anti-satellite function, was first discussed internationally in 2018 at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament. The US State Department noted at the conference that satellites have the characteristics of a space weapon, and Russia’s behavior in this case is hypocritical and troubling.
Also, on April 15 of this year. Russia has also tested an “anti-satellite missile direct takeoff” test.
China is also known to have “militarized” its space satellites. Americans have yet to openly announce the destructive capabilities of their satellites, but official rhetoric may give the impression that Americans already have or are developing satellite destruction tools.
On June 17, Stephen Kitay, assistant chief of the US Space Policy Task Force on Defense, told reporters that “China and Russia have embedded space and made it a combat domain.”
SPACECOM director Raymond said: “The United States, in coordination with its allies, is ready to deter potential enemies and defend its state, allies and vital United States interests from hostile action in space.”
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