Signal At least 20 countries hold military satellites with attribution difficult

Summary

At least 20 countries now operate military satellites, and the three largest space powers hold roughly 500 of them between them. EY also points out that the US, Russia, China and India have all carried out anti-satellite tests that created debris. If a debris event occurred, its cause would be difficult to attribute quickly. That uncertainty, EY warns, opens the door to strategic miscalculation between rival states. It is one reason EY regards orbit as valuable and vulnerable yet badly under-governed, with treaties that predate today's crowded and contested environment.