How China plans to disrupt GPS through ASAT in 2020 & beyond

China is likely will field a ground-based laser weapon that can counter low-orbit space-based sensors by 2020, and by the mid-to-late 2020s, it may field higher power systems that extend the threat to the structures of non-optical satellites.

China to enhance space power by 2020

A declassified Pentagon report last month said that "China is likely will field a ground-based laser weapon that can counter low-orbit space-based sensors by 2020, and by the mid-to-late 2020s, it may field higher power systems that extend the threat to the structures of non-optical satellites."

China had tested its first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile back in 2007 when it destroyed a defunct weather satellite.

In recent years there has been speculation that it tested the ASAT a few more times although it couldn't be confirmed as China consistently denied it, however, the Pentagon report stated that "China plans to use high-energy ground-based lasers in a future war to disrupt Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites that provide pinpoint targeting of US missiles."

After India tested its ASAT on Wednesday, in a cryptic reply China's foreign ministry said it hoped that "each country will uphold peace and tranquillity in outer space".

(Photograph:AFP)