China and Russia's Orbital Weapons Target Our Satellites, Crippling Our Nation

Satellites power our lives, from navigation apps to battlefield drones. Yet, as Gen. Stephen Whiting of U.S. Space Command warned at a recent Chicago Council event, Russia and China are building weapons to destroy them. Lasers, jammers, and even nuclear devices threaten the orbits we rely on. This danger is real, urgent, and growing.

Since the 1991 Gulf War, when U.S. forces leveraged satellites for precision strikes, adversaries have worked to counter our edge. Russia’s reported plan to place a nuclear weapon in space could disrupt entire satellite networks, crippling military operations and civilian systems like banking and emergency services. Over 10,000 satellite interference incidents last year, including Russia’s Viasat attack during the Ukraine invasion, prove the threat is active.

What happens if we lose space? Our military stalls, unable to communicate or track threats. Daily life unravels as GPS fails and supply chains falter. The question isn’t whether we can afford to act, but whether we can afford to wait.

The 2019 creation of the Space Force and the Golden Dome missile defense initiative show leaders grasp this reality. Ukraine’s success using commercial satellites against Russia underscores the stakes: space is no longer optional; it’s the backbone of modern warfare.

We face a choice. Invest in dominance now or risk losing the high ground. History, from Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative to today’s Space Force, points to one answer: strength deters aggression.

Private companies have revolutionized space. With over 7,000 satellites in orbit, commercial systems deliver intelligence, guide munitions, and connect troops. The Pentagon’s 2024 Commercial Space Integration Strategy embeds this tech into our defenses, leveraging reusable rockets and vast constellations for unmatched capability.

This innovation comes with risks. China deploys 40 surveillance satellites annually, equipped with tools to blind our sensors. Russia’s 2021 antisatellite test scattered 1,500 debris pieces, endangering our assets. GPS spoofing already disrupts civilian aviation and shipping. Over half of U.S. military communications depend on these vulnerable commercial networks.

Some advocate for diplomacy, urging U.N. arms control measures or talks with Beijing and Moscow. History disproves their optimism. Russia vetoed a U.S. ban on space-based WMD, and China stood aside. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty hasn’t curbed their weapons programs. Strength, not treaties, stopped Soviet advances during the Cold War. We need that resolve now.

Space Command partners with allies like Canada and Australia to counter threats. The $175 billion Golden Dome initiative will deploy sensors and interceptors to track hypersonic missiles. These steps are vital to protect our military and civilian infrastructure.

Space is a battlefield, and we must be ready to win. Whiting’s warning is blunt: preparation prevents conflict. The Heritage Foundation urges a 3 percent defense spending hike, focusing on space and nuclear upgrades. The House’s $150 billion defense increase for 2026 prioritizes space weapons and commercial partnerships.

Critics argue this approach risks escalation, favoring negotiations instead. But when have Russia or China slowed their orbital arms race? Their lasers, cyber tools, and ASAT systems advance unchecked. The U.S. Army’s resilient GPS and mobile command posts are steps forward, but only a fully funded Space Force and Golden Dome can secure our future.

Our prosperity and security hinge on space. Congress must fund these priorities. Citizens must hold leaders accountable to safeguard the systems we rely on daily. By strengthening Space Force, backing Golden Dome, and deepening commercial ties, we send a clear message: the U.S. will hold the high ground, no matter the cost.