China is practicing “dogfighting” satellites as part of its expanding capabilities in space, according to the United States Space Force, which warned that Washington’s key rivals are closing the technology gap as space becomes increasingly critical to security on Earth.

A top Space Force general said Tuesday that commercial systems have observed Chinese satellites rehearsing “dogfighting” maneuvers in low Earth orbit — the U.S. adversary’s latest show of tactical and technological advancement in space capabilities.

China has been practicing dog-fighting maneuvers with its satellites in space, a senior U.S. Space Force official said Tuesday. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein, speaking at the annual McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington,