Military Satellites by Country 2025

The very first country to put a satellite into space was the Soviet Union, which is modern-day Russia. 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. Russia 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 was the first country to put a man on the moon. Now, there are lots of countries that have satellites in space.

Top 10 Countries with the Most Military Satellites

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. There were a lot of United States military satellite projects that were started in the 1950s. Now, there are 123 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 they put into space, Sputnik, was used as a communication satellite. Now, Russia has 74 military satellites, with many of them launching 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. There are also Russian satellites that can be used to shoot down missiles that might be launched by other countries.

Do Other Countries Have Military Satellites?

Yes, there are plenty of other countries that 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, Russia, and the People’s Republic of China. China has a total of 68 military satellites, and there is no other country on Earth that has more than eight. For example, France and Israel each have a military satellite. There are a handful of countries that have seven military satellites, including India, the United Kingdom, and Germany. A lot of Western countries do not have a lot of military satellites because they use information from the United States.