Satellite Technology in Military and Defense: A Global Overview
The United States operates roughly 120–130 dedicated military satellites, spanning KH-11 imaging, SBIRS/DSP early warning, AEHF/Milstar communications, and the Wideband Global SATCOM network. Russia maintains about 70–80 active military satellites, including the Persona and Bars-M reconnaissance systems, the Liana ELINT network, the GLONASS navigation constellation, and the Tundra early-warning fleet. China operates approximately 60–70 military satellites, featuring the Yaogan reconnaissance fleet, the Beidou 35-satellite GNSS, and the Shentong/Tianlian military communications satellites, along with an active ASAT program. India demonstrated an ASAT capability in March 2019 with Mission Shakti, destroying a satellite in low Earth orbit. Israel’s Ofek series has operated