The War in Space: European Federation
The European Orbital Defense Force was founded within weeks of the formation of the Federation itself. The Orbital Defense Force's first directive was to establish the Space-Based Tactical High-Energy Laser network, to safeguard against the growing threat of the Russian Federation and its expansionist policies. By 2020, four platforms were fully operational, with another 3 under construction in orbit. Many smaller satellites were launched at this time, many of which were nominally for the defense of SLAMS stations in orbit. By 2020, Europe had launched four-hundred cutting-edge military satellites, and although heavily outnumbered by American satellites and significantly outnumbered by Russian satellites, European satellites held a distinct qualitative advantage over their rivals.
While not as stealthy as American satellites, European birds possessed better sensory, communication and control systems. European satellites were not as dependent on ground control systems as their counterparts, and operated from the start as a unified network. When war finally broke out, the EODF killsats enjoyed a kill ratio of 3.2 to 1 for the first month against American and Russian models, although this ratio has fallen off as the war progressed.
The ability to operate in the absence of an uplink gives EODF satellites a resilience not found in the satellite fleets of the other powers. Even the temporary fall of an uplink on the ground usually carries with it a heavy toll in space; not so for European satellites, which are able to maintain near-peak efficiency for weeks after the loss of a local uplink. This in turn translates to reduced casualties in the ground campaign.
The ASM-13B is a typical European kill-satellite. Two meters in length by 1.5 meters, the ASM-13B is solar-powered, and has an impressive detection suite. The 13B destroys dangerous targets with guided missiles, which have a comparable quick reaction or 'draw' time. This allows the 13B to pre-empt enemy killsat attacks. It also has a secondary attack. The 13B maneuvers alongside its targets and uses a high intensity shock prod to overwhelm the electronics of its victims. Since the attack does not expend ammunition, the 13B enjoys a much longer lifespan than most other killsats.