Leaked US Report Reveals China's Plan to Commandeer Enemy Satellites with Cyber Weapons

 China's Advanced Cyber Warfare Tactics Threaten Global Satellite Communications

China's ambitious cyber warfare strategy has sent shockwaves through the global community, as a leaked US intelligence report revealed that the country is developing sophisticated cyber weapons capable of seizing control of enemy satellites. This would render them useless for data signals or surveillance during wartime, posing a significant threat to international security.

Beijing's Quest for Information Control

China's push to develop capabilities to "deny, exploit or hijack" enemy satellites is a core part of its goal to control information. Beijing considers this a key "war-fighting domain." The CIA-marked document, which was issued this year and reviewed by the Financial Times, is one of many allegedly shared by a 21-year-old US Air Guardsman in the most significant American intelligence disclosures in over a decade.

Surpassing Russia's Cyber Capabilities

China's cyber capabilities far exceed anything Russia has deployed in Ukraine, where electronic warfare teams have taken a brute-force approach with limited effectiveness. The attacks, first developed in the 1980s, attempt to drown out signals between low-orbit SpaceX satellites and their on-ground terminals by broadcasting on similar frequencies from truck-borne jamming systems like the Tirada-2.

China's More Advanced Cyber Attacks

China's more ambitious cyber attacks aim to mimic the signals that enemy satellites receive from their operators, tricking them into either being taken over completely or malfunctioning during crucial moments in combat. The classified US document stated that this cyber capability would enable China "to seize control of a satellite, rendering it ineffective to support communications, weapons, or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems." The US has never disclosed whether it has similar capabilities.

Taiwan's Efforts to Counter Chinese Attacks

Recognizing the indispensable nature of satellite communications in modern warfare, Taiwan is seeking to build out communications infrastructure capable of surviving an attack from China. The country is courting investors to establish its own satellite provider, while experimenting with non-geostationary satellite receivers in 700 locations around Taiwan to guarantee bandwidth in the event of war or disasters.

The Importance of Satellite Communications in Warfare

The crucial role of satellite communications in warfare was highlighted by a Russian cyber attack that rendered thousands of Ukrainian military routers from US-based Viasat ineffective just hours before Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24 last year. A Ukrainian official described the attack as "catastrophic." The Viasat hack, while sophisticated, involved breaking into the company's computer systems and sending out instructions to the modems that caused them to malfunction.

China's Far-reaching Goals

China's goals, according to the leaked assessment, are far more advanced. They would seek to knock out the ability of satellites — which tend to operate in interconnected clusters — to communicate with each other, relay signals and orders to weapons systems, or send back visual and intercepted electronic data. Experts have expressed concern over these revelations.

US Warnings About China's Progress in Military Space Technology

US military officials have warned that China has made significant progress in developing military space technology, including satellite communications. General B Chance Saltzman, commander of the US Space Force, told Congress that Beijing was aggressively pursuing counter-space capabilities in an effort to realize its "space dream" of becoming the foremost power beyond the Earth's atmosphere by 2045.

"China continues to aggressively invest in technology meant to disrupt, degrade, and destroy our space capabilities," Saltzman said. He also revealed that China's military had deployed 347 satellites, including 35 launched in the past six months, aimed at monitoring, tracking, targeting, and attacking US forces in any future conflict.

As China continues to advance its cyber warfare capabilities, the international community must remain vigilant and prepared to counter these emerging threats to global security. 

Reference: ft.com