Military Satellites by Country 2025

The very first country to put a satellite into space was the Soviet Union—often simply called ‘Russia’ at the time, though it was officially a federation of multiple republics. When the Soviet Union launched a satellite into space, it kicked off the Space Race. A satellite is a body that orbits a planet. Typically, it is used to refer to man-made objects, but it can include other objects as well. For example, the Moon is a satellite of the Earth. The Soviet Union was also the very first country to put a man into space, but the United States put an end to the Space Race when it became the first country to put a man on the moon. Now, many countries have satellites in space.

Which Country has the Most Military Satellites?

Even though Russia was the first country to put a satellite into space, the United States has the most military satellites in space today. A lot of United States military satellite projects were started in the 1950s. As of 2023 data, there are 247 military satellites run by the United States that orbit the Earth. Today, military satellites play a significant role. Many of them are responsible for taking pictures of various military installations all over the world. Pictures from military satellites can be used to monitor the movement of troops, helping countries respond accordingly. It is not unusual for the United States to collect information using military satellites and share it with other countries.

Does Russia Have a Lot of Military Satellites?

Yes, Russia has a lot of military satellites, as well. The very first satellite put into space by this country, Sputnik, was used as a communication satellite. Now, Russia has 110 military satellites, with many of them having been launched in the 1960s. Many of them are used for the same purposes that the United States uses military satellites. For example, Russia uses its military satellites to take pictures of troop locations all over the world. Russia also uses its military satellites for GPS purposes. Russia is planning on launching more military satellites, but it has had some economic difficulties related to its satellite programs. Some Russian satellites can be used to shoot down missiles that might be launched by other countries.

Do Other Countries Have Military Satellites?

Yes, plenty of other countries have military satellites, as well. Just about every major country on Earth has military satellites, but the three countries that have the most military satellites are the United States, the People’s Republic of China, and Russia. China has a total of 157 military satellites while no other country on Earth outside the top three has more than 20. For example, France and Israel each have just over ten military satellites, at 17 and 12, respectively. A handful of countries have 10 or fewer military satellites, including Italy (10), India (9), Germany (8), the United Kingdom (6), and Spain (4). A lot of Western countries do not have a lot of military satellites because they use information provided by the United States.