Exclusive: UK Pushes New UN Accord On Military Space Norms

Exclusive: UK Pushes New UN Accord On Military Space Norms
Exclusive: UK Pushes New UN Accord On Military Space Norms

The US intends to support the British effort.

Exclusive: Pentagon Poised To Unveil, Demonstrate Classified Space Weapon

Exclusive: Pentagon Poised To Unveil, Demonstrate Classified Space Weapon
Exclusive: Pentagon Poised To Unveil, Demonstrate Classified Space Weapon

The push to declassify an existing space weapon is being spearheaded by Gen. John Hyten, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Space Force To Boost Threat Tracking

Space Force To Boost Threat Tracking
Space Force To Boost Threat Tracking

“I want to be able to identify what [the threat] is, I want to be able to attribute it to whomever is the adversary that’s taken that shot, as an example, and then, I’ve got to be able to share that information,” says Maj. Gen. Leah Lauderback, who heads the ISR Directorate.

Counterspace 2020: All (Pretty) Quiet On The ASAT Front

Counterspace 2020: All (Pretty) Quiet On The ASAT Front
Counterspace 2020: All (Pretty) Quiet On The ASAT Front

“From the evidence we have available, it sure looks like Russia is a bigger counterspace threat than China, which is contrary to a lot of the public discussion that focuses almost entirely on China,” said SWF’s Brian Weeden.

US Needs Better Space Defenses, Including Weapons: CSIS

US Needs Better Space Defenses, Including Weapons: CSIS
US Needs Better Space Defenses, Including Weapons: CSIS

“This issue of classification and the challenge it presents to public discussion is … part of the reason why we wrote this report. There’s nothing in the public domain like this,” says CSIS’s Kaitlyn Johnson.

2021: A Space (Force) Odyssey: Norms, Arms Control & Warfighting

2021: A Space (Force) Odyssey: Norms, Arms Control & Warfighting
2021: A Space (Force) Odyssey: Norms, Arms Control & Warfighting

“I will be very curious to see how the Space Force shakes out in the next year or so. It’s not going away but how it manifests itself could be different,” said Victoria Samson, Washington Office director for Secure World Foundation.

Space Acquisition Report For Congress ‘Imminent’: Raymond

Space Acquisition Report For Congress ‘Imminent’: Raymond
Space Acquisition Report For Congress ‘Imminent’: Raymond

Raymond said that DoD, the Space Force and the Air Force are still in the planning stages for the acquisition field command, and “are evaluating just what’s the right way to do this to enable the strengths of SDA, and others like Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.”

US-China Commission Study Urges Tougher Space Cooperation Restrictions

US-China Commission Study Urges Tougher Space Cooperation Restrictions
US-China Commission Study Urges Tougher Space Cooperation Restrictions

“Ham-fisted US policy has proven counterproductive in the past, and will likely continue to do so in the future,” said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor at the Naval War College.

US Should Start Space Security Talks With Russia, China

US Should Start Space Security Talks With Russia, China
US Should Start Space Security Talks With Russia, China

The Trump administration should declare a U.S. moratorium on destructive ASAT testing and work with like-minded countries to begin laying the groundwork for an eventual legal prohibition. These would be an immense step forward on limiting future ASAT testing and enhancing space security for both the United States and the world.

X-37B’s Next Mission To Demo Space-Based Solar Power

X-37B’s Next Mission To Demo Space-Based Solar Power
X-37B’s Next Mission To Demo Space-Based Solar Power

Given “aggressive and warlike actions, threatening actions, by space competitors, it’s important for us to have an entity that is focused entirely on space defense, and space capability,” said Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett of the new Space Force.

China In Space: Does US Contest Or Cooperate?

China In Space: Does US Contest Or Cooperate?
China In Space: Does US Contest Or Cooperate?

The RAND report points out that China is second only to the US in the number of military and commercial imagery satellites it operates.

Raymond Rips Russian ASAT Test, Arms Control Hypocrisy

Raymond Rips Russian ASAT Test, Arms Control Hypocrisy
Raymond Rips Russian ASAT Test, Arms Control Hypocrisy

The Russian Nudol mobile ASAT missile has been tested “as many as nine times in the past,” SWF’s Brian Weeden told me in an email.

Satellite Attack Potential Increases: CSIS, SWF

Satellite Attack Potential Increases: CSIS, SWF
Satellite Attack Potential Increases: CSIS, SWF

“Russia has become one of the world’s greatest perpetrators of electronic counterspace warfare, jamming and spoofing PNT and communications satellite signals in conflict zones, nearby territories, and within its own borders,” CSIS says.

SPACECOM To Write New Ops War Plan: 100km And Up

SPACECOM To Write New Ops War Plan: 100km And Up
SPACECOM To Write New Ops War Plan: 100km And Up

If the US receives intelligence that Russia is prepping a strike against a US satellite, does SPACECOM task a drone or a B-21 bomber to take it out before it launches? Or does Gen. Raymond choose to simply maneuver the targeted satellite out of the way?