1?.1.-A= has been already stated, satellites for guidance or other purposes arelike1y to increase further in importance and may thus increasingly become objectsfor hostile action in case of a super-pover conflict. systenxs io" tt-r" destructionof or physical interference with satellites can be of either the direet ascent orthe eo-orbital type. Direct-ascent systems require much fess propulsion butrequire very great accuracy in tirning and guirlalce, slnce the crcssing verocltycan be 10 km. per second. Co-orbital syster:rs alfo,nr much more time. ihoy .,". unurti-stage rocket put into the '="r" o"bit as the ta_rget satellite and which isnanoeuvred to approach and destroy the target satell_ite. 121+' one might aJ.so imagine the use of ground-based rasers, equipped vith largetelescope mirrors, in order to focus radiant energy on satellites in row oxbit asthey pass overhead " rt is entirely feasible to injule sensors in satefrites byground-based lasers) although the pointing reoLrirem,-ncs are sevcre, bhe requiredillumination tiroe is long (nany seeonds).. and o1c rausu wait perhaps several- daysuntil the laser site is r,rithin a lew hundred- ki,lonetres of the satellite nr^orrnatTack. r25' The soviet union has tested and demonstrated an anti-satellite system p-Laced.in 1ow earth orbit. This is a non-nuc.Iear systen, in vhich a killer satellitewould rendezvous with the target satellite aird cr.estroy it. The united states has initiated'a prograrnme to obtain an anti-satellite cap;bitity. ?he unitea statesand the ussF are ar-so continuing talks aimed towards a treaty to ban or controlanti-satelf ite activities . 126' Ever since radio and etectronics have been used in wanfare, electroniccountermeasures have been jmportant for mislead.ing rarlars, Janming rad.iocornrounicat ions and the like' Much of this capabiiity is crosery iera. rt iskno'n, however, that in many cases' colrmunlcation rinks can be rendered. useress ifenough j a,nrning 1lovex is concentratecl on the receiving antenna. 127" rn the context of nuclear weapons, there is the possibirity of Janming ordisruption of the coflmand. and control comnunications to the weapons,-and also ofnull,ifling the performance of anti-aircraft or anti-satellite "jrstem". It ispossible here onJ.y to emphasize the uncertainty as to whether efectroriccountemeasules can deny the dilect capability ancl vhether count er-c ormter&easulresearr nulli fy the countexo.easure s . nand identificalion systems
**Analysis**
The text discusses the potential threats and countermeasures related to space-based technologies, specifically satellites, in the context of warfare. It highlights the importance of satellite systems in modern warfare and the possibility of hostile actions against them. The text also touches on the concept of electronic countermeasures and their potential to disrupt or deny the effectiveness of command and control communications.

**Category**
Science and technology, Defense