China’s ambition to surpass the United States as the world’s space superpower has been known for decades and highlighted by the Pentagon in an annual report mandated by Congress.
Alarm bells are ringing louder in the latest Pentagon report released on November 29, which more clearly warns that China’s progress in the civil and military space is rapidly moving towards a war system capable of competing with the United States.
Perhaps not coincidentally, on November 22 the US Space Force established its first foothold in the US Indo-Pacific, the largest unified combat command of the Defense Department almost entirely focused on countering China’s rise.
“I applaud and thank the Space Force for establishing the first service component in Indo-Pacom. I believe it is the right place at the right time for that,” the head of the US Space Command, General James Dickinson, said on Nov. 29.
The US Space Force’s chief of space operations, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, spoke at a ceremony at the Indo-Pacific Command headquarters near Honolulu, Hawaii, to officially deploy the space component.
“We find ourselves competing against an adversary who continues to implement counterspace systems as well as their own space support systems for increasingly capable terrestrial forces,” he said.
The new unit, US Space Forces Pacific, will support Indo-Pacom’s need for space-based technology and expertise in space operations.
Saltzman said that space will become a battlefield in the war against China, and to succeed, the US military must ensure that space networks are integrated with land, sea and air systems.
Brig. General Anthony Mastalir, commander of US Pacific Air Forces, said the threat posed by China “underpins every aspect of warfare” because the US military relies on satellites. In a geographical area as vast as the Asia Pacific, “we have to overcome the tyranny of distance every day, and space allows access to areas that are denied,” he said. “Space is key to our ability to project power at a time and place of our choosing.”
The Pentagon, in its report, said that the Chinese armed forces are trained to leverage the rapidly growing satellite network and disrupt the US satellite network using jammers, lasers and even kinetic weapons.
“It is building and fielding space capabilities at an incredible pace,” Gen. David Thompson, Vice chief of space operations, said at a recent industry conference. He added that China has deployed hundreds of imaging and navigation satellites in just five years.
“Their space ability is still not quite as good as ours, but they are really, really good,” Thompson said. “And so we have to consider that they are peer competitors in that regard. Their capabilities are close to ours.”
With that in mind, the Space Force must continue to resource new technologies, “train our forces and be ready,” he said.
According to a Pentagon report, the first public mention of China’s space and countermeasures capabilities dates back to early 1971, and the country’s military leaders have focused on ways to neutralize superior US systems.
The People’s Liberation Army has “demonstrated advanced, potentially destructive behavior on-orbit with space technology,” said the report, warning that China is expected to deploy weapons capable of destroying satellites up to geosynchronous Earth orbit.
Establishing a Space Force component in the Indo-Pacific Command is a clear message that the U.S. is taking China’s challenge seriously, said Brendan Mulvaney, director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute, an Air Force Department think tank.
A key priority for Space Forces Pacific will be providing accurate intelligence about what actors are doing in space, a capability known as space domain awareness, Mulvaney said. Although the DoD has a lot of sensors, “it’s hard to see what’s going on, it’s hard to attribute things, which is why space domain awareness is a big thing now,” he said.
The Space Force must work with allies and commercial partners to “understand what’s going on in space and, if a crisis or conflict arises, be able to advise the commander of what assets are at risk,” Mulvaney said. The Space Force is ready for this challenge, Thompson said.
Since the space service was established in December 2019, “you have seen years of increase in our budget … “This reflects the understanding, not only from Indo-Pacom but from the nation’s leadership, that we need more capabilities in space.”
Sandra Erwin covers military space for SpaceNews. He is a veteran national security reporter and former editor of National Defense magazine.
“On National Security” appears in every issue of SpaceNews magazine. This column appeared in the December 2022 issue.
SEAL Team 6, officially known as the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the US military. .
Which country has the most feared military?
With military bases in many parts of the world, the US armed forces remain the most powerful in the world.
How do I overcome my fear of the military? 8 Military Tricks To Conquer Your Fears See the article : A downtown Peoria business is considering moving to another city. Here’s why.
- Spend a ton of time preparing and practicing. …
- Learn fear management from The Joker. …
- Breathe…and breathe…and breathe… …
- Don’t bottle it. …
- Talk through the voices in your head. …
- Think of the worst case scenario. …
- Looking away in fear. …
- Keep pushing your comfort zone.
Are soldiers scared of war?
Heart pounding, fear, and tunnel vision are just some of the reported physical and emotional responses of soldiers. More than 30% reported fear before and during combat, dispelling the macho myth that you shouldn’t be afraid during war.
What brave qualities do you think our soldiers have?
These traits include honesty, courage, self-control, decency, and belief in purpose. This may interest you : The wisdom of US restraint in Russia. This is not a complete list, but it is the quality that most good soldiers have.
Who has the biggest army in the world?
It is noteworthy that the three most populous countries in the world also have the three largest standing armies, and in the same order. Read also : Xi’s China is good—and bad—for the United States. China’s massive force is the largest, followed by India and the United States.
Who is the No. 1 army in the world? China has the most active military personnel. Vietnam has the largest number of military forces, including active and reserve. At 801 billion US dollars, the United States has the largest military budget. The United States has the most powerful military in the world.
Who is the strongest military in the world?
United States The star-spangled banner marks the world’s most powerful military power. Despite the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan, its armed forces have a formidable presence around the world.
What is the PLA in China?
The theater command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is a joint operations command that has extensive control over the PLA’s Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and Strategic Support Force.
What does the Chinese PLA stand for? People’s Liberation Army – Wikipedia.
What did the PLA do?
The PLA successfully captured the three disputed islands in a naval battle and subsequent amphibious assault. The Sino-Vietnamese War revealed specific deficiencies in military capabilities and thus gave additional impetus to military modernization efforts.
Is the PLA a volunteer army?
Although the United Nations Command (UN) forces are under the command of the United States, the army is officially a UN “police” force. To avoid open war with the US and other UN members, the People’s Republic of China deployed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) under the name “volunteer army”.
