The new battlefield in the silent void: U.S. deploys new satellite jammers to counter China’s space threat

• The U.S. Space Force is deploying two new ground-based systems, Meadowlands and the Remote Modular Terminal, to jam adversary satellites.
• These systems are a response to a rapidly expanding Chinese space-based intelligence and surveillance network.
• The jammers can be operated remotely from global locations, offering new tactical flexibility.
• They join the Counter Communications System, giving the U.S. three distinct non-destructive counter-space capabilities.
• A new operations center using the “Bounty Hunter” system will coordinate these electronic warfare missions.

In an era where modern warfare depends on satellites for communication, navigation, and intelligence, the United States is accelerating its efforts to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum of space. The U.S. Space Force is now finalizing the deployment of two advanced ground-based systems designed to temporarily disable Chinese and Russian spy satellites. This strategic move, confirmed by new service data, is a direct response to what military leaders describe as a rapidly growing and sophisticated space-based threat from the People’s Liberation Army, which now operates a fleet of over 500 military reconnaissance satellites.

A triad of terrestrial jammers

The new weapons, known as Meadowlands and the Remote Modular Terminal (RMT), represent a significant expansion of American counter-space capabilities. Once fielded, they will form a triad of jamming tools alongside the larger, less mobile Counter Communications System (CCS), which was declared fully operational in March 2020. Unlike kinetic anti-satellite weapons that destroy targets and create dangerous orbital debris, these systems are designed for reversible effects, temporarily jamming satellite signals without causing permanent physical damage.

The strategic value of this approach lies in its deniability and proportionality. Temporarily blinding an adversary’s surveillance satellite during a crisis can protect U.S. forces without necessarily escalating a conflict into open warfare in space. This provides national command authorities with a nuanced tool between doing nothing and initiating a destructive strike.

The growing constellation of concern

The impetus for this technological push is the staggering growth of China’s space capabilities. According to unclassified U.S. Space Force assessments, China now has over 1,200 satellites in orbit. More than 510 of these are dedicated to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), equipped with advanced sensors that can track U.S. naval vessels like aircraft carriers and monitor expeditionary forces. This capability fundamentally alters the strategic calculus in potential conflict zones like the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea.

U.S. intelligence suggests the People’s Liberation Army views counter-space operations as a critical method to deter and counter U.S. intervention in a regional conflict. Chinese military exercises now routinely incorporate jamming drills against the very satellite communications, radars and navigation systems, such as GPS, that the U.S. military relies upon. This practice validates long-standing U.S. concerns and directly fuels the demand for American countermeasures.

The new tools of electronic warfare

The two new systems bring distinct capabilities to the Space Force’s arsenal. The Meadowlands system, developed by L3Harris Technologies, overcame years of technical delays and is now in its final phase of testing. The system is undergoing live-fire exercises and mission rehearsals and is expected to be declared operational within the current fiscal year.

The second system, the Remote Modular Terminal, was developed by contractors Northstrat Inc. and CACI International. It is already in limited early use at undisclosed overseas locations. A key feature of the RMT is its ability to be operated remotely by personnel far from the physical hardware, providing significant flexibility and reducing the footprint of U.S. forces in volatile regions. The Pentagon plans to acquire dozens of each system, creating a distributed and resilient jamming network.

Command and control from the ground

To effectively manage this new suite of electronic weapons, the Space Force is establishing a dedicated Space Electromagnetic Tactical Operations Center. The nerve center of this effort will be a surveillance system with the evocative codename “Bounty Hunter.” This system serves a dual purpose: it monitors U.S. satellites for signs of electromagnetic interference from adversaries, and it works to pinpoint the locations of hostile spacecraft. This creates a continuous cycle of sensing and countering, allowing the U.S. to identify threats and deploy its jammers with precision.

An enduring contest of wills

The deployment of the Meadowlands and RMT systems marks a new chapter in the militarization of space, confirming that the domain is now a contested battlespace. While China’s foreign ministry has consistently stated its commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and opposes an arms race, its extensive on-orbit assets and regular jamming exercises tell a different story. For the United States, the development of these defensive jammers is a necessary response to a clear and present danger. This technological competition is not a sprint but a long-term contest of innovation and deterrence, ensuring that the nation’s vital space-based infrastructure remains secure and that American forces retain their tactical edge in any future conflict.

Sources for this article include:

SputnikGlobe.com

NewsMax.com

Bloomberg.com