All articles tagged with #china spaceplane
The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) released the first high-resolution image of China's secretive Shenlong spaceplane, captured in 2024 by Vantor. The photo, included in the 'Challenges to Security in Space' report, shows the craft docked with another satellite. The report also warns that China may deploy space-based directed-energy weapons by the late 2020s.
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) released its 2026 'Challenges to Security in Space' report, featuring the first high-resolution image of China’s Shenlong spaceplane, captured in 2024 by Vantor (formerly Maxar). The report warns that China may deploy space-based directed-energy weapons by the late 2020s. While the Chinese vehicle closely resembles the US X-37B, it has only operated in low-Earth orbit, whereas the US vehicle has reached higher altitudes. The assessment highlights growing threats from China, Russia, and emerging powers like Iran and North Korea.