Regardless of the central rationale for the anticipated intercept of a dying satellite, the action almost certainly would offer the Pentagon useful data on conducting antisatellite missions, our own Jeffrey Lewis tells Global Security Newswire.

The dead U.S. satellite is to be struck at a significantly lower altitude than other space assets. However, that could prove even more of a challenge to the Navy than any future antisatellite operation because spacecraft on lower orbits typically travel at higher speeds, Lewis said.

The upcoming shot — using a sea-based Standard Missile 3 developed for regional and tactical missile defense — could thus prove to be a useful test for less demanding intercepts that might someday follow, he said.

There are currently a couple of arms races happening. China, Japan, both Koreas, Pakistan, India.......are involved in one. Russia and America is the other and both have their eyes on China. Then there is the Middle East with countries being supplied by America, Russia and China. Africa has several of these countries taking sides and handing out weapons to the groups most likely to hand over the natural resources.