Can China’s new satellite coordination standards boost PLA targeting and resilience?

Chinese researchers are developing standards for autonomous satellite coordination and data sharing, a development analysts believe could enhance military targeting and improve the resilience of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) satellite networks. The Chinese Institute of Command and Control (CICC) convened an expert panel on September 21, approving work on 10 proposed voluntary standards for civilian and commercial low Earth orbit satellites.

The standards cover system design, mission scenarios, data services, coordination at various levels, and autonomous controllers.

The aim is to facilitate better collaboration among different types of satellites within large, complex constellations. Common formats would enable satellites operated by various organizations to consistently describe tasks, report status and capabilities, and exchange mission data. For instance, if a satellite detected something of interest, it could pass relevant task information to another satellite equipped with a different sensor or a better view of the area.

Experts note that coordinating such satellites is not a trivial task. Blaine Curcio, founder of Orbital Gateway Consulting, contrasts China's approach to building large satellite constellations with SpaceX's Starlink. While Starlink is vertically integrated, China's constellations are more dispersed, making interoperability crucial. However, incorporating these standards would require design changes before satellites are built and launched.

The PLA's involvement in this effort reflects China's broader push towards dual-use capabilities. Many Chinese commercial companies are part of Beijing's military-civil fusion strategy, developing technologies for the commercial sector that could eventually be integrated into the military. Such capabilities could shorten the chain between collecting information on a potential target and delivering usable data to military operators.

If one satellite were unavailable or poorly positioned, others could potentially assume its tasks, improving overall resilience.

The Pentagon's 2025 annual report on China's military highlights the PLA's investment in automated detection and tracking from low-Earth-orbit satellites, enhancing its ability to monitor, track, and target US and allied forces. This aligns with the broader PLA vision of an "intelligentised" force and networked warfare, incorporating AI, big data, and advanced computing technologies.

While the standards' primary driver is civilian, their potential military applications are significant, improving resilience as satellites can continue operating even when communications with ground stations are denied.