According to Lianhe Zaobao, a report from a U.S. think tank indicates that China's aerospace industry is narrowing the innovation gap with the United States, warning that if the U.S. fails to take decisive action promptly, China could potentially take the lead in the global aerospace economy.

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) released its report on Monday, June 8, assessing the technological gap between China and the United States across multiple specific domains in the aerospace sector.

The report notes that the United States still maintains an edge in low Earth orbit satellite broadband networks and reusable launch vehicles, where China has yet to master certain key technologies; meanwhile, China has surpassed the U.S. in positioning, navigation, and timing satellites, Earth observation satellites, and anti-satellite warfare capabilities; while in space station construction, the two nations are evenly matched.

Specifically, in the field of low Earth orbit broadband satellites, China’s innovation capacity lags behind that of the United States, but it is currently advancing two major satellite constellation projects—“Qianfan” and “Guowang”—with plans to deploy 28,000 satellites by 2030.

In reusable launch vehicles, the report states that China’s biggest current challenge is the lack of an operational reusable rocket. Although China has numerous launch enterprises, some of which have made progress on critical components, no company has yet completed flawless end-to-end system testing.

However, China holds an advantage in positioning, navigation, and timing satellites. These satellites are essential for navigation, supply chain management, and crucially important for coordinating military operations, making them one of today’s most vital dual-use space technologies.

The report highlights that China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System is more innovative than the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). With 50 satellites utilizing a multi-orbit architecture and inter-satellite link technology, BeiDou achieves higher positioning accuracy compared to GPS, which consists of only 37 satellites and relies on a single orbital plane.

Another area where China excels is Earth observation satellites. These satellites serve both civilian applications such as precision agriculture and disaster prevention, as well as military intelligence gathering and battlefield coordination. While the U.S. long held a leading position in Earth observation, the report argues that it now lags behind China in multiple aspects including visible light imaging, radar, and hyperspectral imaging.

Additionally, the report cites U.S. military intelligence stating that the Chinese military is developing ground- and space-based anti-satellite weapons, aimed at deterring foreign military actions through anti-space warfare operations. The report also references the U.S. Air Force, indicating that the U.S. will soon begin developing similar space warfare technologies.

In the domain of space stations, China’s Tiangong Space Station began construction in 2021 and became operational the following year. The report concludes that China and the U.S. are evenly matched in space station development, noting that China’s “remarkable speed” in building the space station demonstrates its capability for rapid and large-scale manufacturing of aerospace technologies.

The report concludes that overall, the United States remains the most innovative nation in the aerospace technology field, but China now poses a tangible threat to America’s leadership. “If the U.S. does not take decisive action soon, China will take the lead in the global aerospace economy.”

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867479825050823/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.