US Space Force Warns of Chinese and Russian Advances in Satellite Stealth Technology

A senior official from the US Space Force has raised concerns about Chinese and Russian tests aimed at reducing the visual and radar visibility of satellites. This development includes the use of microsatellites with optimized shapes, coordinated maneuvers in low Earth orbit (LEO), and the emergence of bistatic space radars.

China has been exploring microsatellites designed to minimize optical detectability and radar cross-section (RCS) for over a decade, exemplified by the 'Olive-B' metallic sphere tested in an anechoic chamber. Concurrently, Chinese satellites have demonstrated dynamic proximity operations, complicating the distinction between civilian and military activities.

Russia has placed the Mozhayets-6, an experimental satellite with a visual magnitude of approximately 16, in medium Earth orbit (MEO), making it difficult to detect. The rapid increase in Chinese satellites and diverse missions further complicates orbital tracking, while recent tests involving Shiyan-24 A/B/C in LEO revealed synchronized maneuvers and varying RCS, indicating experimental designs to test detection resilience.