Keeping an Eye on the Long Game: Part XLVII

Just a friendly reminder - what is the one thing we seem to be putting so much of our ability to fight and win on? What is the one area that we take for granted will always be there? What is so incredibly fragile, hard to replace, and exceptionally expensive?

When the answer to all of the above is the same, then this should seem quite natural.

China’s military recently launched three small satellites into orbit as part of Beijing’s covert anti-satellite warfare program, according to a U.S. official.

The three satellites, launched July 20 by a Long March-4C launcher, were later detected conducting unusual maneuvers in space indicating the Chinese are preparing to conduct space warfare against satellites, said the official who is familiar with intelligence reports about the satellites.

One of the satellites was equipped with an extension arm capable of attacking orbiting satellites that currently are vulnerable to both kinetic and electronic disruption.

“This is a real concern for U.S. national defense,” the official said. “The three are working in tandem and the one with the arm poses the most concern. This is part of a Chinese ‘Star Wars’ program.”

Everyone loves their nice little C4I diagrams ... and I always enjoyed asking, "What do we do if we can't access that vox and data bandwidth for a few weeks."

Evidently, China has been wargaming that too for quite awhile. 

More fun stuff on the topic from Robert Beckhusen @WIB.

All usual disclaimers about open-source reporting applies, but still. Ponder.

Hat tip HLG.