Professional Documents
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(ASAT)
ASAT
by Anatoly Zak
Geneva, UNIDIR,
March 2014
ASAT: things to consider
Deployment of weapons in space as oppose to military use
of space;
Blurry line between anti-missile and anti-satellite
technologies;
Various methods of destroying satellites with ground-based
and orbital platforms theoretically possible;
Numerous projects under consideration during the Cold
War but deployment is limited;
Multi-component nature of ASAT systems (tracking, nav
and launch);
Huge difference in range of ASAT weapons;
Military benefits of ASAT systems remain controversial.
Early steps
US US
Sept. 22, 1959: Oct. 13, 1959:
A High Virgo missile A Bold Orion missile launched from a
launched from B-58 B-47 aircraft at 11-kilometer altitude
targeting an passes within four kilometers from the
Explorer satellite. Explorer-6 satellite at an altitude of
Unsuccessful. 251 kilometers.
NOTS Caleb SIP
US Navy
Satellite Interpeceptor, SIP, based on
the Caleb mini-satellite launcher (two-stage version).
Launched from F-4
Two successful
air launches in
1961 and 1962
Cancelled
Nike Zeus
US
A nuclear-armed DM-15S
Mudflap missile was
deployed in Kwajalein from
1962 to 1966.
It was to use a direct
ascent to reach the vicinity
of an enemy satellite and
destroy it with an
electromagnetic impulse
resulting from a nuclear
explosion.
Altitude: 550 kilometers
Program 437
US Air Force
Used Thor (DSV-2E)
ballistic missile with a
nuclear warhead
Provided longer range than
Nike Zeus
Officially initiated in 1962
Operationally deployed in
Johnston Island in the
Pacific Ocean until 1975
Altitude: 1,300 kilometers
F-15-based ASAT (ASM-135)
US Air Force
1978: Initiated by the Carter
administration
Sept. 13, 1985: The first
successful launch against
the P78-1 satellite
Congressional ban was
introduced in October 1985.
A total of five tests from
1984 to 1986, but no
operational deployment
Soviet IS system
QuickTime and a
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are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime and a
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are needed to see this picture.
Current ASAT club
Demonstrated capabilities:
USA Russia* China
Potential capabilities:
Israel India