The Russian Space Forces (KVR) has begun deploying special "ground-based means of space monitoring" that can track in-orbit United States satellites, and can also provide targeting information for Russian anti-satellite missiles (ASATs) and ground-based lasers that can blind U.S. military satellites.

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 The Russian Ministry of Defense said the country's first "laser-optical system of a new generation" passed government certification tests and entered duty in the Altai Territory, a "federal subject" of Russia bordering Kazakhstan, Novosibirsk, the Kemerovo Oblasts and the Altai Republic.

"The emergence of four new laser-optical and four radio-technical systems of identification of space objects will make it possible to carry out global non-stop monitoring at all altitudes and angles by 2020," said the Defense Ministry in a statement.

Since it began operations, the new space control system has carried out "hundreds of thousands of special works" to identify and keep track of 15,000 space objects and verify the end of the "ballistic existence" of about 5,000 space objects.

It's also issued 300 warnings of dangerous encounters involving space objects approaching operational Russian satellites and spacecraft.

Specialists at KVR are also carrying out flight development tests of the first satellite that will be part of a new missile early warning network similar to the United States' SBIRS or the Space-Based Infrared System that provides key capabilities in the areas of missile warning, missile defense and battlespace characterization.

This satellite "will become the basis of the space echelon of the early missile attack warning system and help considerably reduce the time of detecting the launches of a potential enemy's ballistic missiles, and also significantly raise the promptness and the reliability of information on warning the country's military and political leadership about missile threats."

The new-generation satellites of the early missile attack warning system will ensure global observation of the entire planet, said the Defense Ministry.