THE NEW SPACE RACE: U.S. Space Force Flags China’s Expanding Web Of On-Orbit Assets.

Beijing began consolidating its military space portfolio under the newly established Aerospace Force in 2015. A decade later, China has deployed more than 1,189 satellites to orbit, according to a September space threat fact sheet published by the Space Force. It has a breathtaking range, spanning global satellite communications networks; position, navigation and timing spacecraft; and inspector satellites that could support wartime operations.

Among recent launches is Yaogan-45, a reconnaissance satellite that was placed in medium Earth orbit (MEO) on Sept. 8 by a Long March 7A rocket. Yaogan-45’s location in MEO—rather than the more common low Earth orbit (LEO)—is a “very unusual” choice for a remote-sensing platform, said Chief Master Sgt. Ron Lerch, Sidari’s senior enlisted advisor.

In 2024, China began launching satellites for Smart Skynet, a new broadband constellation in MEO, to establish data relay infrastructure in that orbit, Lerch noted. The network is planned initially to include eight spacecraft operating at 20,000 km (12,430 mi.) but could grow to as many as 32, with space-to-space connectivity to networks in higher and lower orbits, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC).

“That starts to paint a picture . . . that they value remote sensing to the point where they want resiliency, and layers of it,” Lerch said.

China still can’t match SpaceX for sheer lift or cost to orbit, but they’re working very hard at it.