Anti-satellite weaponry is now widespread

People worldwide depend on satellites for comminications. The military depends on them also as eyes in the sky to monitor troop movements and missile launches. Satellites, however, are quite fragile and the Economist reports (hat tip: Instapundit) that nine (9) countries have lasers believed to be capable of blinding or damaging satellites:

Satellites can be temporarily blinded with lasers fired from earth. Several countries, including America, Britain, China, France, Israel, Japan and Russia, are thought to possess the necessary technology. (A US Air Force official would “neither confirm nor deny” America’s development of anti-satellite lasers.) In the past few years French satellites have been hit several times with “dazzle” strikes from lasers in China, says Erwin Duhamel, head of security at the European Space Agency (ESA). An American general has complained of similar dazzle harassment from China’s military. None of the satellites appeared to be permanently damaged, says Mr Duhamel. But a powerful laser could probably burn sensitive optical sensors on a satellite, doing permanent damage. [Emph. added]

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