June 24, 2006 :: AFP :: News
The Pentagon is increasingly relying on space assets for warfighting, reports the AFP. Sophisticated satellites are used to track down enemies, and keep a round-the-clock watch on unfriendly foes. This technological advantage was most recently demonstrated by the air raid that killed the Al-Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq, an attack that used the U.S. global positioning satellite (GPS) system. The article also discusses the use of space-based assets in the context of missile defense, which has come into focus amid North Korea’s reported plans to test a long-range ballistic missile. If North Korea proceeds with the launch, MDA satellites would be the first to detect the missile, giving the Pentagon time to deploy interceptor missiles.
The U.S. currently has the dominant lead in defense satellite technology, as Russia is failing to replace its decommissioned satellites due to chronic underfunding, and China is only starting to realize its space ambitions. Nevertheless, many believe that the current U.S. dominance in space is not guaranteed in the long-term. Lieutenant General Robert Kehler, the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, recently discussed the matter before a Congressional panel. “Our enemies clearly understand the reliance we place in our space capabilities,” Kehler said. “We cannot assume that space will be a sanctuary for U.S. national security assets and must take prudent steps to ensure that we have the capability to protect our space assets.” (Article)
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