CHINA EXPANDS QUANTUM SATELLITE NETWORK
Beijing's communications may be getting more difficult to intercept. China plans to launch two or three new quantum communication satellites into low Earth orbit in 2025 — with another medium Earth orbit satellite slated for 2027. The budding network, which builds on the success of the PRC's 2016 Mozi satellite, demonstrates China's intent to lead in secure global communications (see Defense Technology Monitor no. 95). According to Pan Jianwei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, "the combination of high and low orbit satellites will build a wide-area quantum communication network" – highlighting Beijing's efforts to break new ground in the application of quantum technologies. (Space News, October 8, 2024)
X-37B TESTS NOVEL ORBITAL MANEUVERS
The mysterious X-37B space plane is back on the radar, thanks to a press release from the U.S. Space Force discussing new capability testing. According to the service branch, "the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) will begin executing a series of novel maneuvers, called aerobraking, to change its orbit around Earth and safely dispose of its service module components in accordance with recognized standards for space debris mitigation." The aerobraking process uses the resistance of Earth's atmosphere to reduce the speed (and altitude) of the spacecraft, creating a significant cost reduction in fuel savings compared to traditional methods. The demonstration of innovative orbital maneuvering techniques has significant implications for future space operations — including improved mission efficiency and reduced reliance on traditional de-orbiting methods. (Breaking Defense, October 10, 2024)
CHINA SETS THE PACE IN GLOBAL TECH STANDARDS
Being on the bleeding edge of emerging technology comes with many responsibilities, one of the most important being setting standards by which to operate new tech. And officials in Beijing are increasingly dictating the terms of global technology standards, from 6G to quantum computing. In particular, institutions like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and state-owned China Telecom are exerting a significant influence on future technological frameworks. The trend is not new; it is part of a broader strategy, detailed by the PRC in 2018, that shoots for China to lead in various high-tech domains by 2035.
Unlike the traditional Western model, which leans on private sectors for standard-setting, China's government-driven approach has enabled it to assert significant influence in international bodies like the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) — where several PRC officials have held positions on their technical committees. Without a change to this state of affairs, Western companies will potentially be sidelined in key markets, falling victim to China's technological exports as they dictate global standards. (The Economist, October 10, 2024)
INNOVATIVE MOTOR PROPELS HYPERSONIC TESTING
In the ongoing battle for hypersonic dominance, the United States may have gained a new advantage in rocketry. The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched the Operational Fires program to foster development of ground-launched rockets that can deliver hypersonic glide weapons, and U.S. defense contractor Exquadrum has developed a revolutionary motor design that seems to fit the bill. Its new Liquid Augmented Solid Rocket (LASR) motor integrates a liquid monopropellant with solid fuel within a titanium combustion chamber, allowing for throttleable propulsion — a critical advancement for varying mission demands. (Aerospace America, October 2024)
BUILDING BETTER AI... WITH AI
Although the idea of superintelligent artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture the imagination of people everywhere, the science may not support the phenomenon quite yet. However, recent advancements in AI have brought us closer to developing self-improving systems. Chat GPT-4, for example, recently used a "self-taught optimizer" in coding exercises, and was partially successful in some cases – implementing changes to its own code for improvement. But not everyone is convinced that these experiments will continue to flourish. Some researchers believe that, after about three iterations of running self-improving algorithms, AI systems tend to plateau. Moreover, AI systems are limited by the availability of large data sets needed for training, and generating synthetic data sets has drawn significant skepticism. (Ars Technica, October 28, 2024)
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Defense Technology Monitor No. 107
Related Categories:
Military Innovation; Science and Technology; Warfare; SPACE; China; United States