China and Russia's space capabilities could take out the internet
As we noted, China and Russia are currently working on a range of space weapons, including satellites with the ability to take out communication networks. This has alarmed members of the defence sector, who warn that the US is falling behind the two nations, and that its early warning systems could be disarmed by a sneak pre-emptive strike. Furthermore, if US satellites were disabled or destroyed the internet would collapse, TVs would go blank, missile systems would freeze and banking and businesses would fall into chaos, warns Lt Gen David Buck, Commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Space.

America is preparing for a war in space amid fears from military chiefs that its outdated satellites are vulnerable to attack.

Defence chiefs have warned the US is falling behind Russia and China, who are taking aim at their superpower rival with a frightening array of space-age weapons designed to knock-out key satellite systems.

In a scenario more akin to science fiction, any future world conflict is likely to be triggered from outer space, say experts.

Military strategists fear that Russia and China are developing special satellites which will sneak up on US hardware and destroy it in space leaving the earth vulnerable

Experts fear a sneak space attack could leave NORAD temporarily blinded and defenseless

If US satellites were disabled or destroyed, life on Earth could quickly become paralysed.

The Internet would go dead, TV screens would be blank, missiles systems could be frozen and the business and banking institutions would descend into chaos.

America could even lose early warning of nuclear attacks for parts of the planet.

‘These satellites were built 15 years ago and launched during an era when space was a benign environment. There was no threat,’ Lt. Gen. David Buck, Commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Space, told CNN.

‘Can you imagine building a refueller aircraft, or a jet for that matter, with no inherent defensive capabilities? So our satellites are at risk, and our ground infrastructure is at risk. And we're working hard to make sure that we can protect and defend them.’

‘We have very good surveillance and intelligence capabilities, so we can see the threats that are being built,’ added General John Hyten, head of US Strategic Command.

‘So we're developing capabilities to defend ourselves. It's really that simple.’ Russia has deployed ‘kamikaze’ satellites called ‘Kosmos 2499’ that are designed to get close to their US counterparts and take them out.

China’s ‘Shiyan’ satellite is equipped with a ‘grappling arm’ that’s capable of snatching US hardware right out of orbit.

According to a CNN documentary, the International Space Station could be at the center of any possible space war if its near Earth orbit if killer satellites were deployed in the region

In a CNN special ‘War in Space: The Next Battlefield’, screened on Tuesday night, General Hyten said America’s adversaries could soon be a threat from Near Earth Orbit, just 100 miles up and home to the International Space Station, all the way to Geostationary Orbit, 22,000 miles away and home to some of the country’s most sensitive military communications and early-warning systems.

‘As humans go out there, there has always been conflict. Conflict in the Wild West as we move in the West ... conflict twice in Europe for its horrible world wars. So, every time humans actually physically move into that, there's conflict, and in that case, we'll have to be prepared for that,’ General Hyten added.

Peter Singer, who advises the Pentagon on space threats and authored ‘Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War’, said there’s a clear ‘incentive’ to putting space communications systems out of action. ‘And that means if there was conflict on Planet Earth, it would almost inherently start with some kind of conflict in space,’ he added.

The futuristic firepower being worked on by the US include a laser weapons system similar to one currently deployed by a warship in the Persian Gulf but adapted for space, and the X-37b, a pilotless space drone.

But another expert says America is still playing catch-up. ‘Could we provide active defence of our own satellites?’ asked General William Shelton, former head of US Space Command. ‘The answer is no.’

Nevertheless, Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work vowed earlier this year that the US would ‘strike back’ if attacked in space. ‘From the very beginning, if someone starts going after our space constellation, we're going to go after the capabilities that would prevent them from doing that,’ Mr Work told CNN.