US weapon to jam Chinese and Russian satellites is running two years late
- The first portable Meadowlands systems from L3Harris Technologies were originally due last year, but are now expected in late 2024 because of technical issues
- The equipment features radar-like dishes mounted on wheeled trailers, and is intended to be transported and based at locations overseas
A portable US weapon that would temporarily jam Chinese and Russian communications satellites early in a conflict is running two years late for its first deliveries.
The first of a potential 30 of the Meadowlands systems produced by L3Harris Technologies Inc. was originally to be delivered in 2022 but now is expected by October 2024, according to US Space Force officials.
Problems encountered during testing “have been resolved, and the programme is moving into its final integration and test phases”, the Space Systems Command said in a statement. It said “the technical issues were due to unexpected challenges that required complex reworks of subassemblies”.
Charles Clarkson, L3Harris general manager for space superiority, said the company worked with the command to increase testing to ensure the jammer “will have more robust operational execution and reduced risk”.
01:30
Chinese space contractor plans for ‘arduous’ year as China-US space race intensifies
Disclosure of the Meadowlands delay provides a rare glimpse into the highly classified world of US “counterspace” capabilities against Chinese and Russian satellites.
US military officials have been loath to discuss those capabilities even as they detail the array of offensive Chinese and Russian ground and space-based capabilities that they say would target US satellites in celestial combat.