Trump re-establishes U.S. Space Command to safeguard U.S.’s interests in space
The President of United States (U.S.) – Donald Trump has announced the official re-establishment of the U.S. military’s Space Command (SpaceCom), in a ceremony at White House.
The U.S. SpaceCom is a unified combatant command of the U.S.’s Department of Defense. It was established in 1985 to provide joint command and control of the Air Force, Army, and Navy’s space forces. Post 9/11 terror attack, the focus of the armed forces shifted to defence and counter terrorism, thereby de-emphasizing the focus on space.
Later in 2019, the National Defense Authorization Act came into force which directed the re-establishment of U.S. Space Command as a sub-unified combatant command under U.S. Strategic Command.
The U.S. SpaceCom will work towards safeguarding the hundreds of U.S. satellittes, which are used for communication and surveillance, in Space.
Speaking on the occasion, Trump said, “This is a landmark day, one that recognizes the centrality of space to America’s security and defence. SpaceCom will ensure that America’s dominance in space is never threatened.”
Describing space as ‘the next war-fighting domain’, Trump said that SpaceCom is essential for defending the space interests of the U.S. “Now, those who wish to harm the Unites States, who seek to challenge us in the ultimate high ground of space. It’s going to be a whole different ballgame,” said Trump
Air Force General – John Raymond, who will lead the new command, said, “I am 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.”
The re-establishment comes at a time when U.S. sees People’s Republic of China and Russia making huge advancements in the military final frontier. For the records, China claims that it can target satellites with missiles. Besides, Russia has said that it aims to create space-based laser weaponry.
Talking about Russia and China, Trump mentioned, “Our adversaries are weaponising earth’s orbits with new technology targeting American satellites that are critical to both battlefield operations and our way of life at home.”
According to a report by Secure World Foundation, an organisation which records military capabilities in space, China, Russia and the U.S. have tested weapons that are capable of taking out a satellite.
Separately, as per another report of Defense Intelligence Agency, published in February 2019, Russia and China are developing jamming and cyberspace capabilities, on-orbit capabilities and the ground-based anti-satellite missiles.
Trump’s Administration sees SpaceCom as the first step of the 5 years plan to establish the Space Force – a new, 6th branch of the U.S. armed forces.
