News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinewar-on-terrorunited-statesspace-and-tech-weapons — Viewing Item


Us wants space superiority { November 7 2004 }

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,14493,1345460,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,14493,1345460,00.html

US ready to put weapons in space

Defence expert says America is likely to ignore treaty ban

Mark Townsend
Sunday November 7, 2004
The Observer

America has begun preparing its next military objective - space. Documents reveal that the US Air Force has for the first time adopted a doctrine to establish 'space superiority'.
The new doctrine means that pre-emptive strikes against enemy satellites would become 'crucial steps in any military operation'. This week defence experts will attend a conference in London amid warnings that President Bush's re-election will pave the way to the arming of space.

Internal USAF documents reveal that seizing control of the 'final frontier' is deemed essential for modern warfare. Counterspace Operations reveals that destroying enemy satellites would improve the chance of victory. It states: 'Space superiority provides freedom to attack as well as freedom from attack. Space and air superiority are crucial first steps in any military operation.'

Theresa Hitchens, vice-president of a Washington-based independent think-tank, the Centre for Defence Information, said: 'These documents show that they are taking space control seriously.'

This week's meeting, held by the British-American Security Information Council (Basic), will also discuss whether Britain can restrain a US administration intent on strategic control of space.

Next year's budget for the US Missile Defence Agency includes funding for research into the development of 'space-based interceptors'. Although the funding allocated to develop lightweight ballistic missile parts is only £7.5m, further details have emerged of a more ambitious programme to site weapons in space.

Plans for a 'thin constellation of three to six spacecraft' in orbit, which would target enemy missiles as they took off or landed, are planned, according to Hitchens. The document, said Hitchens, signals that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which outlaws the use of weapons in orbit, will be ignored.

Of equal concern to some UK defence experts is Britain's agreement in principle to station US interceptor missiles at RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire. Participation in the missile defence programme means that Britain is already 'locked into' a programme that could ultimately include space warfare, say those who are monitoring developments.

'If the UK government tries to argue that it is participating in missile defence, but not in the weaponisation of space, either officials have been duped or they are being disingenuous,' said Hitchens.

Suggestions of a deepening relationship between Britain and America over missile defence surfaced again last week. A parliamentary statement from Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to Labour MP Llew Smith conceded that the MoD has sent two experts to work at the US Missile Defence Agency. Another two will be sent next year.

In a separate debate last week, defence minister Lord Bach admitted that the US was encouraging Britain to become involved in its missile programme. 'The US has offered to extend coverage and make missile defence capabilities available to the UK and other allies, should we require them,' he said.



Air force wants bigger than moab { November 8 2004 }
Air force wants offensive space weapons { May 18 2005 }
Automated killer robots are threat to humanity { January 2008 }
Bush sets defense as space priority { October 18 2006 }
Congress backs pentagon budget heavy on future weaons { June 11 2004 }
Darpa hypersonic bomber { July 1 2003 }
Dolphins trained in attack and kill missions { September 25 2005 }
Israeli us laser downs long range missile in test
Laser beam weapon to be mounted on boeing
Laser beam weapons from space ready for battle
Military role in space set to expand { January 2006 }
Nasa scramjet soars almost 7000 mph
Nasa test of scramjet makes aviation history
New military bomb turns the enemy homosexual
New sonic weapon to iraq { March 9 2004 }
New weapon can shoot around corners { December 15 2003 }
Northrop grumman lasers to zap sams
Pentagon airborne laser weapon on schedule { March 22 2006 }
Pentagon envisioning costly internet world vision { November 13 2004 }
Pentagon project death ray bomb { August 14 2003 }
Pentagon sonic devices inflict pain deafness { March 7 2004 }
Pentagon to test space weapons { March 15 2006 }
Robocop army soldier closer to battlefield { February 16 2005 }
Robot legs [jpg]
Robot plane drops bomb in test
Robotic legs could produce super troops { March 10 2004 }
Russia urges us to avoid space arms race { May 19 2005 }
Scramjet propelled warfare to new era { March 29 2004 }
Segway human transporter robot killer
Us military takes step towards weapononizing space
US plans to build experiemental bomb { July 17 2004 }
Us secret gas { October 29 2002 }
US sends armed robots into iraq { July 2007 }
Us tests biggest bomb moab
US to defend space with military force { December 14 2006 }
Us wants space superiority { November 7 2004 }
Use of unmanned drones surges over iraq { July 5 2007 }

Files Listed: 37



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple