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Space Force Exists To Deal With Threats In Space Domain
by David Vergun, DOD News
January 29, 2021
Threats by Russia and China to deny U.S. access and capability in
space make the Space Force critical to national security, said the
vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Air Force Gen.
John E. Hyten, spoke at an online National Security Space
Association "Space Time" event on January 22, 2021.
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Marine Corps Cpl. Christopher Hoang and Lance Cpl. Zachary Juteau, satellite transmission systems operators with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, perform checks on a very small aperture terminal – large during a communications exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California on December 7, 2020. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Seth Rosenberg)
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Critical space assets include GPS; missile warning;
reconnaissance; and position, navigation and timing.
"Russia
and China are building capabilities to challenge us in space because
if they can challenge us in space, they understand as dependent as
we are in space capabilities that they can challenge us as a
nation," Hyten said.
"Therefore, it is our responsibility as
leaders of the defense enterprise to make sure that we continue to
educate the population about the threats that we face and, then, put
forth recommendations to deal with those threats in a rapid,
responsive way," he said.
In a time of conflict, DOD must
deny adversaries access to space while maintaining its own freedom
to maneuver in that domain, he mentioned.
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An illustration of an extreme high frequency satellite in
earth orbit. The Defense Contract Management Agency’s Lockheed Martin Sunnyvale, California contract management office supports the advanced, extreme high frequency satellite program. (Illustration by Defense Contract Management Agency - January 13, 2015)
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Russia and China are both building antisatellite weapons and
other military space assets at an alarmingly fast rate, he noted.
As a result, the department has to go fast in defining joint
requirements and delivering capable systems to counter the threat,
he said. "We accelerate because our adversaries are accelerating."
In going fast, you have to accept a
certain amount of risk, he added.
Besides moving fast, Hyten
said space systems programs need to have agility and adaptability
built into them.
He noted there's bipartisan support for the
Space Force, and he expects the newest service, along with Space
Command, to continue to make great strides in the new
administration.
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