IC Technology & Surveillance — 2026-04-27

US Space Command Says Russia Operationalizing Co-Orbital ASAT Weapons Shadowing NRO Spy Satellites

Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of US Space Command, said on April 22 at CSIS that Russia has moved from testing to fielding operational co-orbital anti-satellite weapons in orbits within reach of NRO satellites in low-Earth orbit, with US analysts identifying the system as Nivelir. Four Nivelir satellites have launched to date; each releases sub-satellites capable of independent maneuver, and at least one fired a high-velocity projectile in 2020 that US analysts assessed as a kinetic kill weapon. The most recent suspected Nivelir launch, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome last May, was timed to the second to match the orbital plane of NRO's USA 338 Keyhole-class reconnaissance satellite. US officials also assessed a separate launch last year as a suspected Nivelir or similar mission directed toward geosynchronous orbit, more than 20,000 miles above Earth.

Analysis
Transitioning Nivelir from an experimental to a standing operational program signals Russia has codified persistent LEO strike readiness as formal counterspace doctrine; the capability now exists to hold specific NRO assets at risk on a durable, not episodic, basis. The targeted orbital synchronization with USA 338 demonstrates Russia can match the orbital plane of a named intelligence asset, compressing the engagement timeline from shadow position to near-zero. The 2020 kinetic sub-satellite test confirms at least one Nivelir variant holds a hard-kill mechanism, not merely a proximity-inspection or electronic-warfare role. We assess it is likely Russia will launch at least one additional Nivelir-series satellite within the next 12 months, consistent with the program's accelerating cadence, though sanctions-driven component constraints and wartime launch-slot competition are credible drag factors.

2 sources

US Space Command: Russia is now operationalizing co-orbital ASAT weapons - Ars Technica
Russia Is Now Operationalizing Co-Orbital ASAT Weapons - HotAir