It was with a sense of pride, accomplishment and some humility that the US Navy announced with a confidence level as high as ‘80 to 90 per cent’ that its missile interceptor has successfully struck a dying spy satellite orbiting 130 miles over the Pacific Ocean. The ostensible reason for wanting to shoot down this errant spy satellite the size of a bus was the danger of its tumbling down to earth with the prospect of releasing harmful gases around the point of impact. The aim was to rupture the tank filled with toxic rocket fuel before it enters the atmosphere, disperse the hydrazine and smash the satellite into pieces that would fall and burn easily.

Only the really naive, however, would refuse to acknowledge the real feat that the US military has been able to accomplish. With this missile strike the US has categorically signalled that its missile defences can be used to counter strategic anti-satellite weapons. An interceptor designed for missile defence was used for the first time to attack a satellite, demonstrating how the emerging missile defence arsenal could be reprogrammed to counter an unexpected threat. This will no doubt strengthen the hands of the supporters of the missile defence system in which the US has already invested more than $57 billion.

China tested its anti-satellite weapons by shooting down one of its own satellites last year as part of its overarching strategy designed to counter the overall military capability of the US. Suggestions have already been made that the US should start investing in inoffensive counter-space capabilities. Not surprisingly, China has reacted strongly to the US missile strike and has asked the US to share data about the passage of the remnants of the satellite.

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