Makers: Russia To Turn Satellites Into Disabled Space Junk

[grarpamp]

Russia Building Laser Weapon To 'Soft Kill' US Spy Satellites

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4416/1

Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon that could soon
disrupt Western spy satellites flying over its territory.

The Space Review published a new report indicating "strong evidence
that a space surveillance complex in Russia's northern Caucasus is
being outfitted with a new laser system called Kalina that will target
optical systems of foreign imaging satellites flying over Russian
territory."

Construction of the Kalina project began in 2011. In a 2014 financial
document, Kalina's stated purpose was to "create a system for the
functional suppression of electro-optical systems of satellites" using
high-powered laser pulses.

Another document from 2017 described Kalina as a "laser system for
electro-optical warfare" and said it was a special quantum-optical
system" being developed by the Rosatom state corporation.

Kalina can permanently blind optical sensors on satellites, and this
is different than other laser weapons known as "dazzlers," which can
temporarily blind optic systems).

Russia's desire to target satellites via a so-called 'soft kill'
approach is a much different strategy than launching an anti-satellite
missile, as it recklessly did in November 2021, knocking a defunct
satellite out of orbit and, in return, generating 1,500 pieces of
space junk.

The report said, "the project has suffered numerous delays, but recent
Google Earth imagery shows that construction is now well underway."

News of Russia's next-gen laser weapon comes as Space X CEO Elon Musk
has said his company could launch more satellites than Western
adversaries can shoot down. It seems like the Kalina project could
soon challenge Musk's satellite constellation via low-cost beams of
light rather than costly missiles, making it cheaper and easier for
Moscow to take down more satellites.