Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
It appears the US Space Force already has some justification for its existence as Russia has this week test-fired a new anti-satellite missile, according to US officials.
Chief of the Space Command, Army Gen. James Dickinson, condemned what he called Russia’s making space a “warfighting domain” by its provocative actions in statements issued Wednesday, a day after the Russian test. While details of the alleged test were not immediately given or confirmed by the Russian side or in state media, US Space Command described it as a ground-launched “direct-ascent” missile, as opposed to one fired from orbit.
“Russia has made space a warfighting domain by testing space-based and ground-based weapons intended to target and destroy satellites,” Gen. Dickinson said. “This fact is inconsistent with Moscow’s public claims that Russia seeks to prevent conflict in space.”
Prior launch of Russian Soyuz 2.1v, which sent a classified military satellite into orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russian on Nov. 25, 2019, via Roscosmos
He further charged that the Kremlin is seeking to “exploit U.S. reliance on space-based systems” after Russia has demonstrated no less that two specific types of space weapons. These weapons are “capable of destroying satellites in low Earth orbit” according to the Space Command.
“The United States is concerned by Russia’s continued development and deployment of several types of ground-based and space-based anti-satellite weapons.”
As a result of this latest and past tests, Washington has additionally expressed alarm over a mass amount of dangerous space debris created: “If this weapon is tested on an actual satellite or used operationally, it will cause a large debris field that could endanger commercial satellites and irrevocably pollute the space domain,” Space Command said further in its news release.
However, the US statement noted that in Tuesday’s test no Russian weapons hit any ‘dummy’ targets or satellites in orbit, though noting the capability exists.
#Russia conducted an anti-satellite missile test. #Russia continues to weaponize #space. @US_SpaceCom stands ready to protect/defend US/allied interests from aggression in the space domain. @DeptofDefense @SpaceForceDoD pic.twitter.com/wfcYqx5UFb
— U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) December 16, 2020
“We stand ready and committed to deter aggression and defend our Nation and our allies from hostile acts in space,” Dickinson added. “Russia’s persistent testing of these systems demonstrates threats to US and allied space systems are rapidly advancing.”
Russia has in prior statements accused the United States of doing the exact same thing, namely, pursuing the ‘weaponization’ of space while unilaterally pulling out of key ballistic missile and nuclear-related treaties, actions which could trigger a new post-Cold War arms race between to the two powers.
US low orbiting satellites are a endangered and helpless burden for the US defense systems.
Soon they have to wear helmets and tennis rackets too….
How do you “wear” a tennis racket?
You have to get it custom fitted.
Apparently showing intent to protect oneself from Pentagon full-spectrum dominance is a “Hostile Act” to the schizophrenic American politico-military command.
Maybe its for protecting themself against their own people:) Tzar Putin fear anything named 17.
Russia tested anti satellite missile
making space a warfighting domain
USA tested anti satellite missile
defending our Nation and our allies from hostile acts in space
Its very expensive. By that I kind of how that dammed think work.
If I should decide they should send a vakuum cleaner up and rewove all the garbage too.
The U.S totalitarian regime can’t realize or even imagine of anybody apart from them having modern technologies or superiority in any way shape or form, they can’t cope with that reality, anything that stops or breaks their imperialist ideology pose a threat.
The US is currently involved in seven different wars (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Niger) but Russia is the threat to the inhabitants of planet Earth. Okay. just more arrogant, condescending, paranoid, brain-damaged, hypocritical verbal cow dung from the freaks, this time at US Space Command. Only the little worms and lapdog “allies and partners” of the US believe and support this garbage.
Umm, America has the same capabilities. So just another case of US hypocrisy.
all US official statements re Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela .. or anywhere they happen to hate at the moment .. seem to be injected with large doses of fantasy and hysteria. Almost as if they believe they exist in a comic book movie.