US Unveils New 'Vital' Space Shield

The United States Space Force recently tested a new weapon that the military news outlet Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP) said could provide the U.S. "a vital shield" against space-enabled attacks.

Dubbed the Remote Modular Terminal (RMT), the ground-based system is designed to work as a "silent disrupter," which SOFREP described as equipment that jams enemy satellites with competing signals.

The tests of the RMT come after the Space Force and Air Force announced major near-term and longer-term initiatives in February. In a joint statement, the military branches said the changes are aimed at "reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing" the Air Force and Space Force. One of the major areas of focus is to further "develop capabilities."

In terms of further Space Force capabilities, the RMT has the potential to "rewrite the rules of space dominance," according to SOFREP.

SOFREP added that with the "power to cripple enemy satellites, the RMT "has ignited a spark of intrigue in the ever-heating space race."

The outlet noted that areas of space defense are crucial to the U.S. as competing countries, especially China, have made much progress in space in recent years.

In February, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation announced a goal of expanding its footprint in space, including establishing the country's first commercial space launch site in the province of Hainan.

Beijing also said it has set a target of launching 100 space missions in 2024. Last year, China carried out 67 space launch missions, which placed it second behind the U.S. globally.

Given China's advances, the successful test of the RMT represents "a significant milestone" for the U.S., SOFREP said.

Should America find itself in conflict with a space-capable nation, the RMT would essentially disable the enemy's communication and surveillance devices, and possibly render guided weapons unusable.

"Imagine a crucial military satellite going dark mid-mission, its ability to relay critical information or target enemy positions completely negated," SOFREP wrote. "This is the power the RMT promises to wield, offering a vital shield against potential attacks leveraging space-based infrastructure."

A news release from the Space Force highlighted the RMT's operational flexibility, saying the system was used in multiple tests at separate geographical locations. The release also said the RMT is a "low-cost" weapon for the U.S.

"This event demonstrates the service's new vision for integrated developmental and operational test to provide more relevant capabilities to Guardians faster," Lieutenant Colonel Gerrit Dalman, 25th Space Range Squadron commander, said in the news release. "Specifically, this capability will unlock the scale to provide counter-space electronic warfare capability to all of the new Space Force components globally."