US plans satellite network to track hypersonic weapons of China and Russia
- Pentagon agency’s goal is to have 150 interconnected probes operating in low-Earth orbit by 2024
- Chinese space defence expert says it is part of a plan to have thousands monitoring its rivals’ technology
The United States plans to launch 150 satellites that can track hypersonic weapons in orbit in 2024, a move observers say is aimed at helping the Pentagon control assets in space and keep a close watch on Chinese activities.
According to a draft request for proposals released by the Space Development Agency (SDA) last week, it is seeking a contractor to design and build eight satellites with infrared sensors to track hypersonic weapons, US online military tech publication C4ISRNET reported.
Those satellites would be part of the agency’s initial group of 20 to be ready by 2022, the first step towards its goal of having hundreds of interconnected satellites operating in low-Earth orbit, the report said. It plans to add more advanced satellites in the following two years.
It comes after the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA) released a draft request for proposals in February, saying it was seeking to design and build an interceptor missile to defend against regional hypersonic weapons threats.
02:06
He Qisong, a space defence expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said the satellite plan would help the US military to monitor weapons developed by its two key rivals: China and Russia.