China is conducting increasingly sophisticated satellite maneuvers in orbit, essentially rehearsing attacks on U.S. space-based infrastructure critical for navigation, communication, and missile targeting. China’s expanding space capabilities also extend to what military officials call a “kill mesh”, a networked targeting system that connects multiple sensors, platforms, and weapons in a decentralized web where data flows in multiple directions and engagements can occur from several nodes simultaneously. Apart from disrupting U.S. satellites and space assets, this kill mesh can also be used to target U.S. ships at sea.
At the McAleese defense conference in March 2025, U.S. Space Force Vice Chief of Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein reported that five Chinese space objects, three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Shijian-6 intelligence-gathering spacecraft, were observed executing synchronized, controlled maneuvers in low Earth orbit.
These exercises, described by Space Force as “dogfighting in space,” are not routine operations. “They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to conduct on-orbit operations from one satellite to another,” Guetlein warned. In the general’s estimation, these satellites are training to disable or destroy American space assets.
Beyond physical attacks, China has also expanded its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. Its arsenal includes jamming systems targeting GPS, radar, and multiple communications platforms. In 2015, China used GPS jamming to interfere with U.S. surveillance flights over the Spratly Islands, an early example of its willingness to disrupt American drone networks and space-based positioning systems.
Hellbound and Down 