The US Department of Defense has raised alarms over a recent Russian satellite launch, suspecting the satellite could potentially target other satellites. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder disclosed this information on Tuesday, stating that the satellite, launched into low Earth orbit, is believed to be a counter-space weapon.
He mentioned that the satellite’s orbit is aligned with that of a US government satellite and emphasised that Washington is closely monitoring the situation to protect its interests.
Russia has not issued any public comments on the matter. The tension between Moscow and Washington over space militarization has been escalating, with both nations accusing each other of attempting to turn space into a battleground.
Earlier on Tuesday, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry, accused the US of trying to transform space into an “arena for military confrontation.”
Military experts have long predicted that space could become the next frontier of warfare, especially in a world increasingly reliant on technology.
General Ryder reiterated the Pentagon’s belief that the Russian satellite could attack other satellites in low Earth orbit. He highlighted the importance of readiness to protect and defend the space domain to ensure uninterrupted support for joint and combined forces.
A spokesperson for the US Space Command echoed these concerns, identifying the satellite as Cosmos 2576, launched on May 16 from Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The Russian space agency Roskosmos confirmed the launch, stating it was conducted on May 17 using the Soyuz-2.1b vehicle and was intended for the Russian defence ministry. The discrepancy in launch dates can be attributed to the time difference between Moscow and GMT.
Space analysts have noted that Cosmos 2576 shares its orbit with the US satellite USA 314. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has hinted that US satellites supporting the Ukrainian military could be considered legitimate targets.
In February, the White House acknowledged that Russia was developing a concerning new space weapon, although it had not yet been deployed. This announcement followed a cryptic warning from a senior Republican congressman about a significant national security threat, which fueled intense speculation in Washington, DC.
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, based in Washington, DC, released last year indicated that Russia is working on various anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons. This includes a missile successfully tested against an old Soviet-era satellite in November 2021.
The current situation underscores the ongoing rivalry between the US and Russia in space, with both nations vying for dominance and security in an increasingly contested domain. As space becomes more integral to national security and military operations, the potential for conflict over satellite capabilities and intentions appears to be rising.
