Military Satellites by Country 2023 (2024)

Military Satellites by Country 2023 (1)Military Satellites by Country 2023 (2)

Hover overClick on a tile for details.

Which Country Was the First To Put a Satellite Into Space?

The very first country to put a satellite into space was the Soviet Union, which is modern-day Russia. When the Soviet Union launched a satellite into space, it kicked off the Space Race. A satellite is a body that orbits a planet. Typically, it is used to refer to man-made objects, but it can include other objects as well. For example, the Moon is a satellite of the Earth. Russia was also the very first country to put a man into space, but the United States put an end to the Space Race when it was the first country to put a man on the moon. Now, there are lots of countries that have satellites in space.

Which Country has the Most Military Satellites?

Even though Russia was the first country to put a satellite into space, the United States has the most military satellites in space today. There were a lot of United States military satellite projects that were started in the 1950s. Now, there are 123 military satellites run by the United States that orbit the Earth. Today, military satellites play a significant role. Many of them are responsible for taking pictures of various military installations all over the world. Pictures from military satellites can be used to monitor the movement of troops, helping countries respond accordingly. It is not unusual for the United States to collect information using military satellites and share it with other countries.

Does Russia Have a Lot of Military Satellites?

Yes, Russia has a lot of military satellites as well. The very first satellite they put into space, Sputnik, was used as a communication satellite. Now, Russia has 74 military satellites, with many of them launching in the 1960s. Many of them are used for the same purposes that the United States uses military satellites. For example, Russia uses its military satellites to take pictures of troop locations all over the world. Russia also uses its military satellites for GPS purposes. Russia is planning on launching more military satellites, but it has had some economic difficulties related to its satellite programs. There are also Russian satellites that can be used to shoot down missiles that might be launched by other countries.

Do Other Countries Have Military Satellites?

Yes, there are plenty of other countries that have military satellites as well. Just about every major country on Earth has military satellites, but the three countries that have the most military satellites are the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China. China has a total of 68 military satellites, and there is no other country on Earth that has more than eight. For example, France and Israel each have a military satellite. There are a handful of countries that have seven military satellites, including India, the United Kingdom, and Germany. A lot of Western countries do not have a lot of military satellites because they use information from the United States.

Military Satellites by Country 2023

CSV JSON

Download Table Data

Military Satellites by Country 2023

Military Satellites by Country 2023 (2024)

FAQs

Which country has the best military satellite? ›

Yes, there are plenty of other countries that have military satellites as well. Just about every major country on Earth has military satellites, but the three countries that have the most military satellites are the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China.

How many satellites are in space 2023? ›

As of May the 4th (be with you) 2023, the satellite tracking website “Orbiting Now” lists 7,702 active satellites in various Earth orbits. A deeper dive into numbers of satellite that are in space reveals how small satellites have come to dominate low Earth orbit.

How well can military satellites see? ›

A few non-military satellites can see objects down to about half the size of a car. Some military satellites can still see even smaller things. But that does not tell us the whole story. For most applications we need to see larger areas, which requires other satellites that observe at a different scale.

Which country has the most advanced satellites? ›

Number of satellites in orbit - major countries 2022

Of the 5,465 active artificial satellites orbiting the Earth as of April 30, 2022, 3,433 belong to the United States. This is by far the largest number of any single country, with their nearest competitor, China, accounting for only 541.

Which country has the most advanced military technology? ›

The country with the most advanced military technology is the United States of America (USA). Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom are the other countries with the most advanced military technology in the world.

Which country has the best military capabilities? ›

1. United States Of America. US Military has the biggest defence budget in the world. They are known for their most powerful Air Force on the planet, named as United States Air Force (USAF).

Which country has the most satellites in space 2023? ›

With 3,449 satellites in orbit, the United States has by far more objects in orbit than any other nation. Most of these have been put into space for uses such as communications, Earth observation, and technology development.

Which country to launch world first would be a satellite in 2023? ›

The correct answer is Japan. Japan has planned a 2023 launch of the world's first satellite made out of wood to reduce debris. Japan's Sumitomo Forestry company and Kyoto University aim to launch the world's first wood-based space satellite. This Satellite will combat the problem of space junk.

Who has the most satellites in space 2023? ›

Number of satellites in orbit 2023, by leading nations and organizations. As of February 2023 the United States had the highest number of satellites in orbit, amounting to 5,798. It was followed by Commonwealth of Independent States (formerly USSR) with about 1,500 satellites in orbit.

Can the US military shoot down satellites? ›

Although no ASAT system has yet been utilised in warfare, a few countries (China, India, Russia, and the United States) have successfully shot down their own satellites to demonstrate their ASAT capabilities in a show of force. ASATs have also been used to remove decommissioned satellites.

Who controls military satellites? ›

Space Force controls all military satellites.

Can military satellites see through clouds? ›

The most common types of satellite images are only able to see the “top” of the sky — if it is a cloudy day, the satellite will only be able to see the tops of the clouds.

How many Canadian satellites are in space? ›

Canadian satellites. There are 37 active satellites that have Canada listed as the country operator/owner.

Which country is the leader in space technology? ›

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is America's civil space program and the global leader in space exploration.

What is the most powerful satellite in the world? ›

Ariane 5 – Largest-ever telecommunications satellite launched. Earlier this evening, an Ariane 5 ECA launcher lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place the heaviest and most powerful telecommunications satellite ever launched, TerreStar 1, into geostationary transfer orbit.

What is the most powerful nation on earth? ›

The United States remains the most powerful country in the world, followed by China and Russia. However, the balance of power may shift in the coming years as countries like India and Brazil continue to grow economically and assert themselves on the global stage.

Who is stronger Russia or USA? ›

Russia and the United States have taken divergent paths to military might. The US dominates the air with far more bases, fighter jets and bombers than Russia but Russia is superior on the ground with more tanks, artillery and land vehicles.

Does Canada have a strong military? ›

The nation holds a Power Index score of 0.3956 with a score of 0.0000 being considered exceptional in the GFP assessment.

Which country has the most powerful weapon in the world? ›

Russia Has The Most Nuclear Weapons In The World—Here Are The Other Countries With The Largest Nuclear Arsenals.

What is the most advanced spy satellite? ›

"The Ofek 13 is the most advanced of its kind, with unique radar observation capabilities, and will enable intelligence collection in any weather and conditions of visibility, thus enhancing strategic intelligence," IAI President and CEO Boaz Levy said in the IMoD press release. The launch came amid unrest in Israel.

Which country has the best rocket technology? ›

List of Top Countries with Advanced Space Technology
  • USA. The United States' (NASA) is far and away the most active and productive space agency on the planet, with a budget that is almost double that of the next-largest agency. ...
  • Singapore. ...
  • Russia. ...
  • China. ...
  • European space agency countries. ...
  • Italy. ...
  • India. ...
  • Japan.
Apr 25, 2023

What is the longest going satellite? ›

Voyager 1 is a space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977, as part of the Voyager program to study the outer Solar System and interstellar space beyond the Sun's heliosphere. Launched 16 days after its twin Voyager 2, Voyager 1 has been operating for 45 years and 9 months as of June 5, 2023 UTC [refresh].

Which country will launch wooden satellites by 2023? ›

Japan will be the first country to launch the world's first wooden satellite by 2023. Earlier, New Zealand had plans to launch a nanosatellite named WISA Woodsat in 2021, but the plan got delayed. However, Japan is all set to launch its own wooden satellite soon.

Which country plans to build the first wooden satellites by 2023? ›

Detailed Solution. The correct answer is Japan. Japan's Sumitomo Forestry company and Kyoto University have decided to collaborate to develop the world's first wooden satellite by 2023.

Which country has successfully launched a new satellite? ›

The correct answer is China.

Who owns the majority of satellites in space? ›

The United States has the most satellites orbiting Earth. The 2,804 satellites that are owned or operated by an entity from the U.S. make up more than half of the total amount of space satellites that are currently in orbit.

Does China have satellites? ›

According to a US Department of Defense report to Congress in November 2022, China nearly doubled the number of ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) satellite platforms in the past four years, and its total satellite fleet, numbering 260 platforms, is second only to that of the United States.

What do military satellites do? ›

Defense Support Program Satellites

In their 22,300-mile, geosynchronous orbits, DSP satellites help protect the United States and its allies by detecting missile launches, space launches and nuclear detonations.

Can military satellites be jammed? ›

Size and transmission power will determine the jamming range (downlink satellite jammers can be minimised to the size of a handheld jammer). Basic jamming capability is fairly straightforward and does not require sophistication (so much so that militaries regularly jam their own satellite communications by accident).

Why the US military could replace spy satellites with solar planes? ›

Dan Lomas at Brunel University London says one reason to focus on solar-powered planes is adaptability: they can be moved from place to place at will, whereas satellites take time and planning to move to a new orbit.

How many satellites does NATO own? ›

In total, U.S. NATO allies operate 384 satellites. However, only 15 of the 29 U.S. NATO allies operate satellites.

How much does a military satellite cost? ›

Developing a new military communication satellite system can cost upwards of $1 billion. Putting one into orbit can run anywhere from $55 million to $90 million per launch. But that is nothing compared to buying and integrating the terminals required to link to them back on Earth.

What percentage of satellites are government owned? ›

Government and civil purposes make up 21% of all of Earth's operational satellites, and military purposes come in at 13%.

Can satellites see people on the ground? ›

The answer is: no. Satellites differ greatly in the level of detail they can “see”. Why can't NOAA's satellites see someone's house?

Can satellites see inside your house? ›

'Ghost' images that appear to show the inside of structures is due to the satellite beaming down its own signal, and not just collecting light, which sometimes allows it to penetrate structures.

How far can spy satellites zoom in? ›

Though, ordinarily, aerial photography is the highest 'zoom' displayed. To date, the greatest resolution accessible with commercial optical satellite data is 30 cm per pixel, which equates to a 12 x 12-inch area on the ground under optimal conditions.

What satellites are owned by Canada? ›

Authorized and Approved Canadian Satellites
Authorization HolderSatellite(s)Position
Aireon Canada LimitedADS-B/Iridium NEXTLEO
Canadian Space AgencyRadarsat Constellation Mission (RCM)NGSO - LEO
Canadian Space AgencyNEOSSATNGSO
Canadian Space AgencySCISAT-1NGSO
34 more rows
Sep 28, 2022

Is Canada active in space? ›

Astronauts will be part of the Artemis II mission

While NASA has a roster of 41 active astronauts, there are only four active Canadian astronauts: Jeremy Hansen, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons, Joshua Kutryk and David Saint-Jacques.

Has Canada been in space? ›

October 5-13, 1984. Astronaut Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space on mission STS-41G aboard Challenger. As a Payload Specialist, he is responsible for CANEX -1, a set of Canadian experiments. On this mission, Canadarm is operated for the ninth time on a space shuttle flight.

What are the top 5 countries with advanced technology? ›

Japan, South Korea, and the United States top the list, followed by Germany, China, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Finland.

What is China doing in space? ›

China launches a new crew into space, including its first civilian astronaut : NPR. China launches a new crew into space, including its first civilian astronaut China's space program officials said on Monday they have plans to expand its space station, along with launching a crewed mission to the moon before 2030.

Who is No 3 space agency in the world? ›

3. China National Space Administration (CNSA) CNSA is one of the most popular and most successful space agencies globally.

Who has the best military satellites? ›

Just about every major country on Earth has military satellites, but the three countries that have the most military satellites are the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China.

What is the best military satellite in the world? ›

Built to military standards, Skynet 5 satellites are the world's most powerful commercial X-band satellites and provide assured communications during critical operations.

Which country is best in satellite? ›

This count also includes around 60 satellites run by the European Space Agency. However, the predominance of one spacefaring nation has solidified in recent years: that of the United States.

Which country is number one in remote sensing satellites? ›

The correct answer is China. The pair of SuperView - 1 remote sensing satellites were launched by China.

Who has the most spy satellites in the world? ›

Why use balloons when satellites exist? China has an extensive satellite network. In a Nov. 2022 report, the Defense Department said China's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance-capable (ISR) satellite fleet had more than 260 systems, second only to the U.S., as of the end of 2021.

What is the longest lasting satellite? ›

But a lifespan of a few years is nothing compared to Earth's oldest satellite: Vanguard 1. As America's second satellite, it was launched into space on March 17, 1958. And though it only blasted off some six months after the Soviet's Sputnik satellite, Vanuguard 1 still remains in orbit — more than 60 years later.

Who controls the most satellites? ›

The United States has the most satellites orbiting Earth. The 2,804 satellites that are owned or operated by an entity from the U.S. make up more than half of the total amount of space satellites that are currently in orbit.

What are the 5 biggest satellite? ›

The seven largest natural satellites in the Solar System (those bigger than 2,500 km across) are Jupiter's Galilean moons (Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa), Saturn's moon Titan, Earth's moon, and Neptune's captured natural satellite Triton.

Which country has spy satellite? ›

Nuclear-armed North Korea has said it has completed development of its first military spy satellite, and leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for the launch.

What is the most tracked satellite? ›

MOST TRACKED SATELLITES AT N2YO.COM
NameLaunchedAction
LANDSAT 8February 11, 2013TRACK IT
NAVSTAR 76 (USA 266)February 5, 2016TRACK IT
VIASAT 2June 1, 2017TRACK IT
NAVSTAR 68 (USA 242)May 15, 2013TRACK IT
46 more rows

Do other countries use US GPS satellites? ›

There are four core satellite navigation systems, currently GPS (United States), GLONASS (Russian Federation), Beidou (China) and Galileo (European Union).

Is there a satellite weapon? ›

As of December 2022, there are no known operative orbital weapons systems, but several nations have deployed orbital surveillance networks to observe other nations or armed forces. Several orbital weaponry systems were designed by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Can spy satellites see through houses? ›

The answer is: no. Satellites differ greatly in the level of detail they can “see”. Why can't NOAA's satellites see someone's house?

How many spy satellites does the U.S. have? ›

Spy satellites have been with us since the dawn of the Space Age. In fact, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which maintains a database of operational satellites, says that as of March, there were more than 2,000 of the devices in Earth orbit, 176 of which were operated by the U.S. military.

How many satellites does Russia have? ›

Paradoxically, in doing so, they have a qualitative advantage over Russia, which has more than 160 satellites in orbit, of which more than 100 are military.

How many Chinese spy satellites are there? ›

"Of China's over 700 operational satellites in orbit, 347 are People's Liberation Army intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms providing optical, radar, and radio-frequency capabilities which track the Joint Force worldwide," General Chance Saltzman warned in a statement given to the Senate Armed ...

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 5867

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.