Russia Has Lasers To Shoot Satellites

Russian defense companies have created a plane-mounted laser that can hit satellites, at least according to an anonymous source quoted by Russian news agency Interfax.

Recently, an Interfax report cited the source as saying that weapons maker Almaz-Antey has “completed work on the anti-satellite complex,” which includes the laser and associated ground control gear. Almaz-Antey manufacture the BUK missile which destroyed Malaysian Airlinse MH- 17 over Ukraine in September 2016, killing all  283 passngers and 15 crew.

Independent and Western observers have not yet verified the claim. But the Russian program does exist. Last April, Almaz-Antey general designer Pavel Sozinov told Russian news agency Ria Novosti that Russian leadership had ordered the company to develop weapons that could interfere electronically with or achieve “direct functional destruction of those elements deployed in orbit.”

The program builds off the Soviet-era Beriev A-60, a gas laser fitted inside a heavily modified Ilyushin Il-76MD cargo plane. The effort also bears some resemblance to the Soviets’ 1984 Kontakt 30P6 program, which sought to modify a MiG-31D to draw targeting data from the Krona-N space and satellite observation complex and shoot down an enemy satellite with a 79M6 Kontakt missile.

The new laser will be fitted aboard a brand-new, as-yet-unnamed aircraft, as part of a new anti-satellite “complex” that will likely involve ground and radar elements as well, Interfax reported.
 
Samuel Bendett, a research analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, said, “Russia considers American satellites a significant threat when it comes to potential confrontation, and is actively working to counter US technologies in space, such as possible electronic warfare technologies that can target hundreds of kilometers up. The developments in laser technologies are in step with US and Chinese advancements in this area.”

US defense officials are increasingly concerned about anti-satellite weapons. “We assess that Russia and China perceive a need to offset any US military advantage derived from military, civil, or commercial space systems and are increasingly considering attacks against satellite systems as part of their future warfare doctrine,” Dan Coats, who directs the director of the Office of National Intelligence, told lawmakers last May.

A US Joint Staff report obtained by the Washington Free Beacon in January, predicted that Russia or China would be able to destroy US satellites within a decade

DefenseOne: 

You Might Also Read: 

Pentagon Seeks Laser-Powered Bat Drones:

China’s Quantum Satellite Changes Cryptography:

« Cybercime Against UK Business Is Up 63%
Real Dangers of Artificial Intelligence »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

LockLizard

LockLizard

Locklizard provides PDF DRM software that protects PDF documents from unauthorized access and misuse. Share and sell documents securely - prevent document leakage, sharing and piracy.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

Bob's Business

Bob's Business

Bob's Business adopts a fresh approach to information security awareness and compliance training, delivering key information through the use of short animated movies.

JumpCloud

JumpCloud

JumpCloud's Directory-as-a-Service (DaaS) is the single point of authority to authenticate, authorize, and manage the identities of a business’s employees and the systems and IT resources they need.

Happiest Minds Technologies

Happiest Minds Technologies

Happiest Minds offers domain centric solutions in IT Services, Product Engineering, Infrastructure Management and Security.

Cyber Exchange

Cyber Exchange

Cyber Exchange provides a focal point for UK organisations connected with, or with an interest in, cyber security to connect, engage and collaborate.

Cyber Affairs

Cyber Affairs

Cyber Affairs is the first Italian press agency entirely dedicated to cyber security.

Coursera

Coursera

Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online. Subject areas include Computer Security & Networks.

Belden

Belden

Belden is a global leader in signal transmission and security solutions for mission-critical applications in enterprise and industrial markets. Belden brands include Hirschmann and Tofino Security.

Sovereign Intelligence

Sovereign Intelligence

Sovereign Intelligence provides automated insight into the relative intensity of hidden Cyber, Brand, and Financial Risks to your company.

iSolutions

iSolutions

iSolutions is an official reseller and engineering company of leading products and solutions for cybersecurity and information protection, optimization, visualization and control of applications

Billington CyberSecurity

Billington CyberSecurity

Billington CyberSecurity is a leading, independent education company with an exclusive focus on cybersecurity.

Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales (WCRC)

Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales (WCRC)

The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales (WCRC) is part of the national roll out of Cyber Resilience Centres in the UK which began in 2019.

AdronH

AdronH

AdronH is a company of Cyber Security consultants. We support companies and public institutions with their digital transformation to new and secure business platforms.

MS Tech Solutions

MS Tech Solutions

MS Tech Solutions is a Jamaican-based, multinational consulting company that specializes in the architecture, implementation and management of key network and Information technologies.

Applied Connective Technologies

Applied Connective Technologies

Applied Connective is one team for all your technology needs, from IT to phones, cyber security to physical security, audio/video and the infrastructure to support it.

Alpha Echo

Alpha Echo

Specialising in security advice and enterprise-wide Cyberworthiness, Alpha Echo helps Australia deliver on cyber outcomes at a military grade level.

Instil Software

Instil Software

Instil helps technology brands transform, innovate and disrupt their markets with category-defining software products that challenge us to think, feel and act in new ways.