US Intelligence Reveals China's Secretive Shenlong Spaceplane Capabilities

The Defense Intelligence Agency released an unclassified space security assessment on October 26, 2026, featuring high-resolution imagery of China's secretive Shenlong robotic spaceplane. The images, captured in 2024 by Vantor (formerly Maxar Technologies), show a winged craft with open cargo bay doors and deployed solar array wings, bearing a design similar to the U.S. Space Force's X-37B.

Analysis indicates the spaceplane is currently on its fourth mission, which began in February 2026. Between June and September, the craft demonstrated rendezvous and proximity operations by releasing and recapturing an auxiliary co-orbital satellite multiple times. The assessment notes that such maneuverable spacecraft are more effective for specific orbital tasks than conventional satellites and can be returned to Earth for refurbishment.

The report warns that China is expanding its counterspace capabilities, including ground-based lasers and anti-satellite missiles. In response to these directed-energy threats, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced on September 14 that the Space Force has deployed orbital weapons to defend U.S. forces.