A new report released by the United States has revealed that China could deploy laser weapons in space before 2030.

The report released by Defense Intelligence Agency stated that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are developing, testing, deploying, and using space capabilities in a way that threatens the security of all space systems and their associated space benefits.

Titled Challenges to Security in Space, the report claimed that China and Russia are developing a formidable spectrum of offensive capabilities to degrade or destroy space services of other countries, from kinetic destruction to sophisticated jamming and cyber operations. These countries have exhibited behaviors that often run counter to a safe, secure, and sustainable space domain.

Counterspace weapons can deny, jam, temporarily disable, or permanently incapacitate space assets, along with the vital services they provide. Military, civil, and commercial providers deliver space services that collectively can be held at risk by an actor with the intent to interfere with military space services, since commercial and civil space services sometimes have connections to certain military capabilities. Although many counterspace weapons or tactics are intended to degrade space services temporarily, others can damage or destroy satellites permanently, according to the report.

Antisatellite (ASAT) missiles are designed to kinetically strike and destroy satellites. ASAT missiles could produce massive amounts of debris that can remain in orbit for decades or even centuries.

The report also highlighted that PLA’s objectives include space dominance as Beijing has ability to control the space-enabled information sphere and deny its adversaries their own spacebased information gathering and communications capabilities.

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