Japan’s AI satellites and other space ambitions ‘a serious threat’, China warns
Japan’s plan to develop tactical satellites equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) would boost its long-range offensive strike capabilities and pose a serious threat, Chinese state media has warned. The Japanese Nikkei newspaper reported last week that the planned AI-equipped satellites would be capable of analysing surveillance intelligence in space. The aim is to speed up targeting…
China has warned that Japan's plan to develop artificial intelligence-equipped tactical satellites could pose a serious threat. According to Chinese state media, these satellites would be capable of analyzing surveillance intelligence in space, speeding up targeting decisions and enhancing Japan's offensive strike capabilities. The Japanese defence ministry plans to develop a prototype AI satellite in collaboration with domestic companies, with space launches expected to begin in the 2030 financial year.
Japan aims to significantly reduce the time for space-to-ground communication by processing data in orbit rather than transmitting raw images to the ground. This would enable faster decision-making and improve the accuracy of long-range missile strikes against mobile targets, such as approaching warships. Chinese military commentator Shao Yongling stated that Japan's AI satellites are part of its broader space militarisation strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on US intelligence and establish a space-based intelligence and kill chain under its own control.
China has also been developing its own space-based AI capabilities, with the launch of the first batch of 12 satellites for the Three-Body Computing Constellation in May 2025. This constellation boasts a capacity of 5 petaflops, making it the largest operational space-based computing system to date.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
