BY:SpaceEyeNews.
A new space-age nuclear threat is emerging — one that could change the very nature of warfare. Recent warnings from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reveal that China is accelerating the development of a Cold War-era weapon with a futuristic twist: a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS). These orbital nuclear missiles can bypass Earth’s traditional defense grids and hit U.S. targets with little to no warning.
As China invests in new types of space-based military technology, the Pentagon is growing increasingly alarmed. And for good reason: these orbiting nuclear weapons are fast, stealthy, and nearly impossible to intercept. The U.S. is now scrambling to catch up, with a multi-billion dollar project called “Golden Dome” aiming to shield the country from this unprecedented threat.
A Cold War Weapon Reborn
Originally conceptualized and tested by the Soviet Union during the 1960s, FOBS is designed to launch a nuclear warhead into low Earth orbit (LEO), travel a partial arc around the globe, then de-orbit and strike its target without completing a full orbit. What makes it so dangerous is the element of unpredictability. Traditional intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) follow high, parabolic arcs that can be tracked and intercepted. FOBS, by contrast, can maneuver in orbit and change trajectories mid-flight, allowing it to bypass existing missile defense systems.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union developed the R-36O FOBS missile, which was specifically designed to avoid U.S. radar systems focused on threats from over the North Pole. The missile was operational from 1968 until 1983 but was phased out following the Outer Space Treaty (1967) and the SALT II Treaty (1979), both of which discouraged the weaponization of space.
But now, over 50 years later, China has revived and upgraded this concept — blending it with modern hypersonic technologies that the Soviets never had access to.
China’s 2021 Hypersonic FOBS Test: A Wake-Up Call
In July and August of 2021, China reportedly launched a Long March 2C rocket carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) into orbit. The payload orbited Earth partially before re-entering the atmosphere and gliding toward a target — a maneuver that startled American defense officials.
This was the first known instance of a nation combining hypersonic glide capabilities with orbital delivery — a powerful combination that left top U.S. generals deeply concerned.
General Mark Milley, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in an interview:
“What we saw was a very significant event of a test of a weapon system. And it is very concerning. I don’t know if it’s quite a Sputnik moment, but I think it’s very close to that.”
Hypersonic glide vehicles travel at more than five times the speed of sound, can maneuver mid-flight, and don’t follow a predictable path — making them nearly impossible to stop with current missile defenses. Combined with orbital launch, the result is a strike system that’s fast, stealthy, and strategically disorienting.
FOBS vs. ICBMs: Why the Pentagon Is Worried
The Pentagon’s fears are grounded in both technology and trajectory. FOBS presents multiple layers of challenge:
| Feature | FOBS | ICBM |
|---|---|---|
| Launch trajectory | Enters low Earth orbit | High arc trajectory |
| Flight path | Unpredictable, can change direction mid-orbit | Predictable |
| Early detection | Difficult due to non-traditional approach | Easier via radar networks |
| Intercept likelihood | Extremely low | Moderate with current defenses |
| Strike time | Much shorter in certain flight paths | Longer, especially via traditional arc |
Moreover, FOBS allows the attacker to launch over the South Pole, completely evading the U.S. radar and missile defense systems, which are focused northward to detect Russian launches.
The use of hypersonic gliders as payloads further complicates detection and interception. Once launched, they can maneuver within the atmosphere, increasing the odds of penetrating any remaining defense layers near the target.
China’s Strategic Missile Growth: The 2035 Forecast
According to the May 2025 DIA report, China’s strategic missile arsenal is growing faster and becoming more advanced than previously estimated. If trends continue, China will have:
- 60 operational FOBS missiles by 2035
- 4,000 hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) (up from 600 currently)
- 700 nuclear-tipped ICBMs (up from 400)
- 132 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) (up from 72)
For comparison, Russia is projected to have:
- 12 FOBS missiles
- 1,000 HGVs (currently 200–300)
- 400 ICBMs
- 192 SLBMs (unchanged from current figures)
These numbers highlight China’s clear ambition to lead in next-generation missile warfare, especially in space and hypersonic domains.
The report also mentions that China may already possess conventional missiles capable of striking Alaska, a troubling sign that even non-nuclear systems are now threatening the U.S. mainland.
Golden Dome: America’s $500 Billion Space Shield
In response, the U.S. is planning a sweeping missile defense initiative: the Golden Dome. Initiated by former President Donald Trump via executive order on January 27, the Golden Dome aims to protect the continental U.S. from every missile threat imaginable — whether launched from land, sea, air, or even from orbit.
Golden Dome Goals:
- Intercept ballistic missiles, hypersonics, cruise missiles, and orbital weapons
- Utilize space-based radar, tracking satellites, and orbital interceptors
- Possibly deploy directed energy weapons like lasers
- Establish layered defense systems to give multiple interception opportunities
The Pentagon has already allocated $24.7 billion for early-stage development. However, a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report estimates the full cost could reach $542 billion over 20 years, especially if space-based interceptors are pursued — the most experimental and controversial part of the architecture.
Key components already endorsed include:
- Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS)
- Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA)
The U.S. Space Force will likely oversee the deployment and operation of Golden Dome assets, building a vast orbital network capable of detecting and neutralizing threats during their boost phase or mid-flight.
Yet, even within Congress, questions remain. Representative Ken Calvert, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, admitted:
“No one has defined what the Golden Dome is. Is it defending the entire Lower 48 and Alaska? What are we doing and how are we doing it?”
Strategic Implications: A New Arms Race in Orbit
The revival of FOBS marks a paradigm shift in global nuclear deterrence. With orbit-capable nuclear missiles and thousands of hypersonic vehicles in development, China is signaling that the battlefield has extended into space — and that the U.S. cannot rely on Cold War-era defense systems any longer.
Experts warn that the proliferation of orbital strike systems could destabilize the deterrence balance, as nations may be tempted to strike first in a crisis due to the compressed response windows. Moreover, misidentification or false alarms in detecting orbital systems could trigger catastrophic retaliation.
Beyond nuclear warheads, China’s military is reportedly exploring AI-guided space systems, anti-satellite (ASAT) lasers, and electronic warfare satellites — painting a vision of near-Earth orbit as a fully militarized zone by the mid-2030s.
Conclusion: Deterrence in the Age of Orbit
FOBS is more than just a missile system — it’s a signal that the next frontier of global military competition is space. China’s advanced testing and future projections suggest a clear strategic goal: achieving first-strike capability that’s undetectable and unstoppable.
The U.S., while technologically capable, now faces the immense challenge of reinventing its homeland defense systems for an era of unpredictable, fast, and orbital threats. Golden Dome may be the answer — but whether it arrives in time remains the critical question.
As space becomes the new high ground, the consequences of falling behind could be irreversible. The world is entering an age where a nuclear warhead could silently orbit above — invisible, untrackable, and ready to strike in minutes.
Reference:
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinas-orbital-nuke-missiles-that-may-hit-the/?amp