US Conducts Successful First Hypersonic Test Bed Flight Amid Rising Tensions with China and Russia

 The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has achieved a significant milestone in its hypersonic program with the successful completion of the first flight of its Hypersonic Test Bed (HTB). Designed as a unified platform for all hypersonic experiments, the HTB aims to advance the US's hypersonic capabilities.

During the HTB-1 test, the vehicle achieved hypersonic flight, allowing for the collection of valuable data from various internal and external experiments. MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins described the test as a major success, marking the beginning of a cost-effective platform for conducting hypersonic experiments. "HTB-1 represents a significant step forward in hypersonic testing capability," Collins stated.

The MDA highlighted that the HTB will be crucial in accelerating the development and deployment of hypersonic technologies, enhancing the US's ability to conduct frequent and varied tests. This capability is essential for advancing state-of-the-art technologies that can reliably operate in hypersonic flight conditions, according to Collins.

Collaborating with numerous partners, the MDA aims to use data from these tests to develop advanced capabilities for a comprehensive hypersonic defense system. As the leading agency for hypersonic defense, the MDA is working to outpace the threats posed by the hypersonic advancements of Russia and China.

Both Russia and China have developed multiple hypersonic weapons, placing the US in a position to catch up. The MDA's hypersonic test bed joins a growing array of high-speed flight test devices, providing a versatile platform for various hypersonic experiments. This includes contributions from the Defense Innovation Unit's Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities program and the Test Resource Management Center's Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed.

While the MDA has not disclosed details about the creators of the HTB, the agency announced that advanced missile tracking satellites captured their first images of the hypersonic flight test. Although the departure time from Wallops Island, Virginia, was not revealed, the agency confirmed that initial reports showed successful data collection from the sensors.

Lt. Gen. Collins mentioned that this first calibration flight is a precursor to another test bed launch later this year. The Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS) satellites, part of the Space Development Agency's constellation, played a crucial role in tracking the hypersonic flight. These sensors are designed to detect and monitor hypersonic weapons traveling at speeds of Mach 5 or greater.

Currently, there are ten missile-tracking satellites in space, shared between the MDA and the Space Development Agency (SDA). Despite the different development projects for these sensors, the HBTSS medium-field-of-view sensor will be integrated into future SDA spacecraft iterations, enhancing the ability to track dim targets and relay data to interceptors.

Eventually, a constellation of 100 satellites will provide global coverage for advanced missile launches. However, the current limited fleet offers restricted coverage, necessitating careful coordination of satellite monitoring opportunities to ensure they are positioned over test venues and hotspots worldwide.

Chinese Satellite Tracks US F-22 Raptor: A Potential Shift in Aerial Surveillance Capabilities

 Chang Guang, a Chinese commercial aerospace company, has released a brief video purportedly showing a satellite tracking a US F-22 Raptor fighter jet. The video, which dates back to 2020, was shared by Clash Report on X and reportedly utilizes the commercial Jilin-1 remote control satellite system.

The footage is notably short, lasting just six seconds, during which the satellite’s camera tracks the aircraft, identified as an American F-22 Raptor navigating through partly cloudy skies. This raises several questions: Is the aircraft truly an F-22? Was the video edited? Did the Jilin-1 satellite system actually perform the tracking? And why release only a brief segment?

While observing the F-22 in video footage isn't unusual, its stealth technology makes it nearly invisible to radar but not to the naked eye. If the satellite can track the F-22 beyond these six seconds, it suggests a significant advancement in combat capabilities, implying that satellites could detect aircraft that ground-based radars might miss.

Reports confirming that Chinese satellites tracked an F-22 flight would spark discussions on combat capabilities. Stealth planes like the F-22 are not completely invisible to radars but have "low observability," making them harder to detect. The F-22’s radar cross-section (RCS) is about 0.0001 m², akin to a small metallic pebble, making it detectable at 1/17.5 of the distance of a typical fighter jet. However, detection depends greatly on the viewing angle.

While the F-22’s radar signature is minimal, it is still detectable, meaning tracking a known stealth aircraft is feasible. This suggests that integrating orbital technology with ground stations could enhance radar focus on specific sectors, aiding in identifying stealth aircraft signatures, assuming clear skies and no interference.

China’s Jilin-1 Satellite System, developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., is a constellation of commercial remote sensing satellites providing high-resolution imagery and video for applications such as environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster response. It features diverse satellite types, including optical imaging, video, and hyperspectral satellites, allowing for a wide range of data capture. With a high revisit frequency, the system provides frequent updates of the same geographic area, crucial for real-time monitoring.

Launched initially in 2015, the Jilin-1 constellation has expanded significantly and now includes dozens of satellites, with plans for further growth.

Footage from 2020 has revealed that Chinese engineers are working on an advanced AI system to enhance the capabilities of low-cost commercial satellites, potentially transforming them into powerful surveillance tools. Reports suggest this system could improve success rates by up to seven times compared to current technology. Developed by researchers in the Chinese military, this AI system claims to track moving objects as small as a car with remarkable precision, achieving 95% accuracy in identifying small objects in Jilin-1 satellite videos, significantly surpassing existing methods.

Space Force Plans High-Tech, Multi-Orbit Narrowband SATCOM for Enhanced Resilience

 

This week, the U.S. Space Force revealed its future vision for narrowband satellite communications, potentially involving numerous advanced satellites in multiple orbits.

Current narrowband communication satellites, part of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) constellation, provide secure cellular voice and data services to military forces globally. These satellites operate in the narrowband frequency range, which ensures less susceptibility to adverse weather and challenging terrain, enhancing secure communications.

On May 29, the Space Force announced its desire for future narrowband satellites to be more resilient, cost-effective, and quickly deployable. The detailed plans are still under development, with completion expected later this year.

"The U.S. military must maintain its asymmetric advantage in a contested, degraded, and operationally limited space environment," the Space Force stated. "Narrowband SATCOM capabilities are critical for the U.S. military and its allies, and they must evolve to meet expanding needs, leverage emerging technologies, and counter future threats."

The service envisions the new satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), situated between 1,200 and 22,000 miles above sea level, compared to the current geostationary orbit at 22,000 miles.

The Space Force currently has four MUOS satellites and one spare, built by Lockheed Martin, each carrying dual payloads for legacy Ultra High Frequency Network and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) capabilities. To sustain the constellation until 2035, the service plans to launch two additional satellites, with prototypes being developed by Lockheed and Boeing under $66 million contracts due by July 2025. A final selection is expected by FY26, with launches planned for FY31.

The new satellites will bridge to the future narrowband architecture. The Space Force is considering whether current ground terminals can operate with MEO satellites without significant upgrades, seeking feedback from companies on potential modifications and associated technical and schedule risks.

The Space Force's notice also inquires about the role of commercial systems in the future architecture. The service's commercial space strategy, released in April, highlights satellite communications as a prime area for commercial collaboration, aiming to integrate commercial networks into a resilient hybrid architecture.

"The USSF will enhance resilience through integrating proliferated commercial networks into hybrid architectures and offset future investments in government-owned capabilities," the Space Force emphasized.