Report: Chinese Base at Antarctica Can Disable Satellites

News China last week announced its intention to build a high-frequency radar on the South Pole, reports East-Asia-Intel. The radar will be built at China’s Zhongshan Station, where Beijing has set up of a space environment lab. The high-frequency radar, which will consist of 20 antenna units, will have a range of approximately 3,000 km. Chinese officials told the news agency Xinhua that the station will be used to measure the polar space environment. However, U.S. defense analysts believe that the site could be used to disable U.S. satellites which pass over the South Pole.

The 2005 Pentagon (annual) report on the military capabilities of China had noted that the country is “conducting research to develop ground-based laser ASAT [anti-satellite] weapons,” and that “Beijing has and will continue to enhance its satellite tracking and identification network—the first step in establishing a credible ASAT capability.” In coming years, it is possible that China could deploy ASAT weapons in Antarctica capable of blinding or disrupting U.S. satellites.

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