Military forces in China and Russia are closely watching U.S. programs to protect satellites and space systems and could counter those measures with a large-scale attack, according to a senior Space Force general.

Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, told the recent Intelligence and National Security Summit that the Pentagon and Space Force are moving toward the use of large constellations of satellites that will make targeting satellites more difficult for Beijing and Moscow, both of which have developed several types of satellite-killing weapons.

“Proliferation means I’m now spreading out orbitology across multiple different orbits, so that they can’t just take out one satellite; they have to take out a bunch of satellites,” he said.

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“Then through proliferation, we’re partnering with other entities to get just more assets on orbit. That is a significant investment for the United States Space Force.”

Gen. Guetlein acknowledged the new approach may not work. Asked if he regards masses of satellites to be at risk in the event of a large-scale attack, he said: “Yes, I do.” Both Russia and China, he added, “are watching what’s going on in places like Ukraine and Gaza, and they are understanding how the world has become dependent upon space.”

The comments were first reported by Air and Space Forces magazine.

Russia is said to be close to deploying a space-based nuclear weapon that would be capable of taking out a large number of satellites in orbit.

Rep. Mike Turner, Ohio Republican and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, disclosed the Russian nuclear space weapon in February, calling it a “serious national security threat.”

China has similar plans for nuclear space arms as reported in this space in June.

The Air Force China Aerospace Studies Institute reported that Chinese military researchers are examining the use of nuclear blasts in space against large numbers of targets such as Starlink satellite swarms.