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US accuses Russia of testing anti-satellite weapon in space
[Al Ahram] The United States accused Russia on Thursday of conducting a test of an anti-satellite weapon in space, asserting that it exposed Moscow's intent to deploy weapons that threaten US and allied satellites.In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said the July 15 event involved ``a small space vehicle'' that ``inspected one of the national satellites from a close distance using special equipment.'' It added that the inspection ``provided valuable information about the object that was inspected, which was transmitted to the ground-based control facilities.''The US, however, said the Russian actions were inconsistent with the stated mission of an inspector satellite. ``The Russian satellite system used to conduct this on-orbit weapons test is the same satellite system that we raised concerns about earlier this year, when Russia maneuvered near a US government satellite,'' said Gen. John W. Raymond, commander of Space Command and the head of US Space Force. ``This is further evidence of Russia's continuing efforts to develop and test space-based systems, and consistent with the Kremlin's published military doctrine to employ weapons that hold US and allied space assets at risk.'' In a space strategy document published last month, the Pentagon asserted that ``China and Russia present the greatest strategic threat due to their development, testing, and deployment of counterspace capabilities and their associated military doctrine for employment in conflict extending to space.`` It added, ``China and Russia each have weaponized space as a means to reduce US and allied military effectiveness and challenge our freedom of operation in space.'' Private US space analysts said US concerns about the July 15 event appear justified in an era of rapidly improving space technologies that could pose threats to satellites that are integral to modern life in the US and globally. Defense of these satellites was a key reason the Trump administration create US Space Force last December. Posted by: Fred 2020-07-24 |
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