2023 Global Counterspace Capabilities Report



About This Report
The 2023 Global Counterspace Capabilities Executive Summary by the Secure World Foundation offers a comprehensive overview of how state actors are pursuing the development of technologies that can interfere with or degrade space systems. Drawing from open-source intelligence, the report examines global trends in counterspace strategy, including advancements in electronic warfare, cyber operations, kinetic physical threats, and space situational awareness. It highlights the increasing use of non-destructive means to achieve military objectives in space, and the dual-use nature of many emerging space technologies that blur the line between civil and military applications.
Specifically, the 2023 edition reflects growing concern over the operational maturity of non-kinetic counterspace tools such as jamming, spoofing, and cyber intrusion, particularly among spacefaring nations like Russia, China, and the United States. It includes updated country profiles and comparative visuals that assess capability levels, testing frequency, and geopolitical posture. The report warns that despite a lack of active destructive use in conflict, the risks posed by these capabilities are real and escalating, and stresses the urgent need for norms of responsible behavior and international dialogue to prevent escalation in space.