European security officials believe that two Russian spacecraft have intercepted signals from at least a dozen critical communication satellites over Europe. These activities, previously undisclosed to the public, are thought to not only jeopardize the confidentiality of sensitive data transmitted via satellites but also pose risks ranging from manipulating satellite orbits to completely disabling them.
Suspicious Maneuvers by Russia in Orbit
According to officials, Russian satellites named Luch-1 and Luch-2 began tracking European satellites much more intensely over the last three years. This period coincides with the peak of tensions between the Kremlin and the West following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Western military and civilian space authorities have long been monitoring the repeated and unusual maneuvers performed by these two Russian vehicles in orbit.
Orbital data and ground-based telescope observations reveal that Luch-1 and Luch-2 have approached Europe's most important geostationary satellites to a risky degree. These satellites, orbiting in sync with Earth at an altitude of approximately 35,000 kilometers, serve Europe, as well as large parts of the United Kingdom, Africa, and the Middle East. It is stated that Russian vehicles have positioned themselves near some satellites for weeks, even months, with this behavior significantly increasing over the past three years. Luch-2, launched in 2023, has been detected approaching 17 European satellites to date.
Major General Michael Traut, who heads the German army's space command, stated that these vehicles are suspected of conducting "signal intelligence" activities, emphasizing that Russia is deliberately staying close to Western communication satellites. A senior European intelligence official highlighted that the Luch satellites aim to enter the narrow coverage area of data streams transmitted from ground stations to satellites.
Unencrypted Data Poses Significant Risk
One of the biggest concerns for officials is that many European satellites were launched years ago without advanced onboard computers and robust encryption systems. Consequently, the unencrypted transmission of satellite command data opens the door for this data to be recorded and used for malicious interference in the future. According to experts, if an adversary actor seizes these commands, it could theoretically be possible to change the orientation of satellites, deactivate them, or even cause them to uncontrollably drift into the atmosphere.
While most European satellites subjected to these close-approach maneuvers provide civilian services like satellite television, sensitive communications belonging to governments and limited military users are also carried over the same platforms. According to intelligence sources, Luch-1 and Luch-2 do not possess direct jamming or destruction capabilities, but it is believed that these satellites are collecting comprehensive data on how systems can be disrupted from the ground or orbit. Another sign of Russia's increased reconnaissance activities is the launch of two new satellites, Cosmos 2589 and Cosmos 2590, last year. These vehicles are also said to have maneuverability similar to Luch-1 and Luch-2. Additionally, Luch-2 is reportedly still near the Intelsat 39 satellite.
Russia's moves in space are now seen as part of its increasingly apparent "hybrid warfare" activities. Last year, Russian hackers took control of a dam in Norway. The country is also believed to be involved in sabotages such as cutting undersea internet and energy cables.
Orbit is Now the Most Critical Battlefield
Although China and the US have also developed similar technologies, European officials believe that Russia's space espionage program is one of the most advanced and aggressively used programs.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's remarks in September summarize this concern: "Satellite networks are the Achilles' heel of modern societies. Those who attack them can paralyze entire nations. Russia's activities, especially in space, pose a fundamental threat to all of us. A threat we can no longer ignore."
0 Comments: