March 13, 2004 :: Analysis
In the March edition of Air Force Magazine, editor Robert S. Dudney describes the essential character of space for future warfare. Currently, the U.S. is extremely dependent upon its space assets for military operations, but has virtually no means of protecting the same, despite advances in space technology by potential enemies—such as China.
Dudney addresses what is one of the most critical obstacles to serious missile defenses, the aversion to putting defenses in space under the mistaken assumption that they constitute some devious “weaponization of space.” The fact is that space is an essential element to American security, and we must choose to defend it, or not. Dudley goes on, however, to say that the Air Force increasingly sees the need for such defenses, and references a recent “Strategic Master Plan” paper by Space Command, “that places unprecedented emphasis on the need for ‘counterspace’ capabilities.” Nevertheless,
Unless the US makes a course correction, it will, at some point, probably suffer a serious attack on its assets in space, one that would hamper its military operations. Seen in that light, USAF’s space proposals seem not only sensible but restrained.
(Article)
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