2018 Global Counterspace Capabilities Report
About This Report
The Secure World Foundation’s 2018 Global Counterspace Capabilities Executive Summary presents a detailed early assessment of global military strategies and technologies aimed at space denial and disruption. It analyzes open-source data to document how nations are developing tools to deceive, degrade, or destroy space systems, categorized into direct-ascent, co-orbital, electronic warfare, directed energy, and cyber capabilities. This edition reflects growing recognition among governments that space superiority is critical to modern military operations—driving both offensive development and increased risk of escalation.
The report provides detailed profiles on key actors including China, Russia, and the United States, noting China’s robust testing of rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), Russia’s revitalization of Cold War-era programs and emphasis on electronic warfare, and the U.S.’s development of capabilities primarily for missile defense and communications disruption. It also touches on emerging space powers like India, Iran, and North Korea, who are showing early or limited counterspace activity. While kinetic systems remain largely in development, non-kinetic tools like jamming and spoofing are already in operational use, underscoring the urgent need for norms and frameworks to preserve long-term space sustainability.
Executive Summaries
