The United States has decided to grant the United Kingdom and other allies access to space intelligence data, due to concerns over the rapid expansion of satellite capabilities by China and Russia, as reported by ERR.
According to U.S. Space Force representative Colonel Ramsey Horn, Beijing and Moscow are actively developing technologies that could be used to monitor Western military assets in the event of a war. Horn noted that America must be prepared for a battle no one wants to fight—but which is becoming increasingly likely amid global competition in space.
The Pentagon is particularly concerned that, in the event of a military conflict between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, Beijing could use its satellites to track American forces. At a recent briefing at the U.S. Embassy in London, Colonel Horn emphasized that the United States possesses the capabilities to defeat its adversaries in space. In particular, the U.S. is developing new types of weapons designed to protect Western satellites from potential attacks.
Source: SCANPIX/Joshua Conti/U.S. Space/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire
One of the main threats, according to American military officials, is the dual-use nature of some satellites. While they may appear to be standard commercial devices, they are in fact used for military purposes. This complicates identification efforts and increases the risks.
In response, Washington has decided to expand space cooperation with the United Kingdom, as well as with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. These countries will be granted access to intelligence data the U.S. has gathered via its satellites over the past decade. In return, the allies are expected to assist the U.S. in monitoring vulnerable areas in space and ensuring a more stable presence in this strategically important domain.
Horn also emphasized that China launched 66 satellites last year—more than ever before—which points to the growing scale of Beijing’s space ambitions.
