China’s military has warned that a plan by the US Space Force to deploy “orbital carriers” will accelerate an arms race in space.
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In a commentary published on Thursday by People’s Liberation Army Daily, an expert from the PLA Space Engineering University pointed to a recent US$60 million contract awarded by the US Space Force to develop an orbital transport craft. The article said the project would “boost US war-fighting strength, yet intensify the two nations’ military rivalry and threaten space security”.
The article, published under the name Wang Tiantian, appeared to reference a contract granted to the Seattle-based space infrastructure company Gravitics.
The firm announced in March that it was creating a “game-changer” system that it expected to have launched for demonstration as early as 2026. The carrier could deploy “multiple manoeuvrable space vehicles” within hours – instead of days or weeks – using conventional launchers to counter possible threats, the company said.
At a defence conference in March, Michael Guetlein, US Space Force vice-chief of space operations, said the service was shifting towards “a warfighting force”. Guetlein listed escalating threats, including China’s 2024 low-orbit manoeuvres involving five synchronised satellites conducting “dogfighting” drills, and Russia’s use of jamming and laser systems, alongside concerns that Moscow may be arming satellites with nuclear warheads.
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The PLA Daily commentary cited design specifications suggesting the craft included hard-points for weapons and could carry up to 10,000kg (22,046lbs) of payload within a 60-cubic metre (2,119-cubic feet) compartment. That capacity would allow for more than 150 kinetic kill vehicles – space interceptors adapted from missile defence systems – enabling rapid and sustained offensive or defensive operations, it said.
Because of this dual-use potential, “such ambiguity has triggered warnings that demand heightened vigilance from all spacefaring nations”, the commentary said.