President Donald Trump launched a new Pentagon command dedicated to warfare in space Thursday, as American armed forces chiefs see China and Russia pressing hard to erode the US’ advantage in the newest military frontier.
“This is a landmark day, one that recognizes the centrality of space to America’s security and defense,” Trump said in a White House ceremony.
#Trump says #SpaceCom will ensure that 'America's dominance in space is never questioned' pic.twitter.com/CyumFsFCu0
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) August 30, 2019
“SpaceCom will ensure that America’s dominance in space is never threatened.”
The new command will elevate space – largely the satellites and high-altitude aircraft essential to modern-day warfare – to a focused theater of combat, the equal of the US Central Command governing the Middle East and the Pacific Command, which manages defenses in the Western Pacific and Asia.
I’m convinced that space is a war-fighting domain. I’m convinced that our way of life and our way of war depend on space capabilities
While the US Air Force already has a dedicated warfare operation, SpaceCom will heighten its importance and foster specialized systems and training for expanse showdowns.
“The dangers to our country constantly evolve and so must we,” said Trump.
“Our adversaries are weaponizing earth’s orbits with new technology targeting American satellites that are critical to both battlefield operations and our way of life at home.”
Today is LAUNCH day! @POTUS Donald Trump will establish U.S. Space Command at 4:00P.M. EDT. #WatchLive: https://t.co/JG5kMG348J @US_SpaceCom
— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) August 29, 2019
“Our freedom to operate in space is also essential to detecting and destroying any missile launched against the United States,” he added.
Air Force General John Raymond, who will lead the new command, said ahead of the White House ceremony that US rivals China and Russia are already pouring huge resources into expanse operations, where they believe they can, in a conflict, diminish US advantages.
The challenges range from adversaries jamming communications and GPS satellites to, as China demonstrated in 2007, ground-launched missiles used to physically destroy satellites.
After SpaceCom, US Space Force
“We are at a strategic inflection point where there is nothing that we do as a joint coalition force that isn’t enabled by space,” Raymond told reporters at the Pentagon.
“I’m convinced that space is a war-fighting domain. I’m convinced that our way of life and our way of war depend on space capabilities,” he said.
Read more: In space, the US sees a rival in China
The Space Command is the Pentagon’s 11th full command and second launched in two years.
Last year the Pentagon elevated its cyber warfare operations to CyberCom, recognizing that online attacks and defense constituted a unique theater of combat.
Trump though has a much more ambitious vision for space warfare.
In June 2018 he ordered the Department of Defense to create a much larger Space Force, a dedicated branch of the military equal to the existing forces, the US Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.
Trump marks the start of Spacecom to counter Russia and China https://t.co/Y2iaRIaXkq
— Bloomberg (@business) August 29, 2019
That much more ambitious and expensive move would require Congress’s approval. Some in the Pentagon, including the former defense secretary James Mattis, have opposed the idea as unnecessary and creating new bureaucracy.
“SpaceCom will be followed by the establishment of the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the United States armed forces,” Trump said Thursday.
“The Space Force will organize, train and equip warriors to support SpaceCom’s mission.”
Steve Kitay, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, said a proposal could be added to the Defense Department’s budget in the coming year, calling it a “strategic imperative.”
Today is the official establishment of @DeptofDefense's U.S. Space Command!
USSPACECOM is the only command solely focused on space & will amplify our nation's defense #spacesuperiority w/the best @USArmy, @USNavy, @usairforce & @usmarines warfighters! #usspacecom #sealreveal pic.twitter.com/ob9ij75s3x
— U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) August 29, 2019
In China and Russia, he said, “there is a perception that space represents an [American] Achilles heel and that this is an asymmetric advantage for them to then take on the United States’ power.”
“Space will not be an Achilles heel” for the US, he said.
AFP with additional input by GVS news desk