China and Russia Develop Stealth Satellites to Evade Detection, US Space Force Reports

China and Russia are advancing stealth satellite technologies to reduce detection by radar and telescopes, according to Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch of the US Space Force. Recent activities have shifted from a 'cat and mouse' dynamic at geosynchronous orbit (GEO) to a 'hide and seek' approach at low Earth orbit (LEO).

The Chinese military has been experimenting with microsatellite designs since 2012, including the Olive-B test article, which is shaped to minimize radar visibility. Recently, Russia launched the Mozhayets satellite into medium Earth orbit (MEO), which has a visual magnitude of approximately 16, making it significantly harder to detect compared to GPS satellites. Commercial firms like LeoLabs and Slingshot have been instrumental in tracking these stealth satellites, with Slingshot identifying the Mozhayets before the Space Force did.