After China Test, U.S. Lawmaker Urges More Space Spending
Distracted by the war in Iraq and other matters, senior members of the Bush administration ââ¬â including the president himself ââ¬â have remained silent on Chinaââ¬â¢s successful test of a missile that can destroy satellites in orbit.
ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s time to start speaking out,ââ¬Â Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., said in a speech Jan. 29 at the Heritage Foundation.
Satellites are critical to the U.S. military and to much of the U.S. economy, so the United States must start taking steps to protect them, Kyl said.
ââ¬ÅSecurity in space is a vital national interest. The loss of access to space would threaten the very stability of our nation,ââ¬Â he said.
Satellites enable our financial markets, are critical to communication, are central to air traffic control, they gather intelligence, they transmit radio and television signals, and are critical to military communication, navigation and reconnaissance, Kyl said.
ââ¬ÅNone of our military operations can function without space components,ââ¬Â he said. ââ¬ÅUnfortunately the threat to our space security is real and growing.ââ¬Â Conservative and hawkish, Kyl is the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committeeââ¬â¢s terrorism, technology and homeland security subcommittee
The Chinese missile destroyed an aging weather satellite Jan 11, but the missile shot also showed that the Chinese can hit satellites in the same general orbit as U.S. intelligence-gathering satellites, Kyl said.
The Chinese have tinkered with other types of anti-satellite systems as well. Last September they illuminated a U.S. spy satellite with a ground-based laser. The laser did not damage the satellite, the National Reconnaissance Office reported at the time.
The September test suggested that U.S. satellites might be in danger. The January test proved it.
Kyl said President George W. Bush and his cabinet members were too busy working on a new strategy for the war in Iraq, preparing for the Jan. 23 State of the Union address and measuring the new Democratic-controlled Congress to pay adequate attention to the anti-satellite test.
But now the administration should pay heed, he said. And so should U.S. allies. Japan, for example, ââ¬Åought to be very concerned,ââ¬Â because it, too, is heavily reliant on satellites.
Kyl urged the Defense Department to spend more on satellite and space programs. Spending on space programs amounts to half of one percent of the Air Forceââ¬â¢s budget, he said. ââ¬ÅThis is clearly not enough.ââ¬Â
The United States has the technology edge and a robust enough economy to out-build and out-spend China on space defenses, he said.
Kyl argued against trying to contain the Chinese threat through treaties and agreements. ââ¬ÅArms control wonââ¬â¢t work,ââ¬Â he said. Treaties banning space weapons would be unverifiable and would almost certainly be broken, he said.
http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2516226&C=airwar
Distracted by the war in Iraq and other matters, senior members of the Bush administration ââ¬â including the president himself ââ¬â have remained silent on Chinaââ¬â¢s successful test of a missile that can destroy satellites in orbit.
ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s time to start speaking out,ââ¬Â Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., said in a speech Jan. 29 at the Heritage Foundation.
Satellites are critical to the U.S. military and to much of the U.S. economy, so the United States must start taking steps to protect them, Kyl said.
ââ¬ÅSecurity in space is a vital national interest. The loss of access to space would threaten the very stability of our nation,ââ¬Â he said.
Satellites enable our financial markets, are critical to communication, are central to air traffic control, they gather intelligence, they transmit radio and television signals, and are critical to military communication, navigation and reconnaissance, Kyl said.
ââ¬ÅNone of our military operations can function without space components,ââ¬Â he said. ââ¬ÅUnfortunately the threat to our space security is real and growing.ââ¬Â Conservative and hawkish, Kyl is the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committeeââ¬â¢s terrorism, technology and homeland security subcommittee
The Chinese missile destroyed an aging weather satellite Jan 11, but the missile shot also showed that the Chinese can hit satellites in the same general orbit as U.S. intelligence-gathering satellites, Kyl said.
The Chinese have tinkered with other types of anti-satellite systems as well. Last September they illuminated a U.S. spy satellite with a ground-based laser. The laser did not damage the satellite, the National Reconnaissance Office reported at the time.
The September test suggested that U.S. satellites might be in danger. The January test proved it.
Kyl said President George W. Bush and his cabinet members were too busy working on a new strategy for the war in Iraq, preparing for the Jan. 23 State of the Union address and measuring the new Democratic-controlled Congress to pay adequate attention to the anti-satellite test.
But now the administration should pay heed, he said. And so should U.S. allies. Japan, for example, ââ¬Åought to be very concerned,ââ¬Â because it, too, is heavily reliant on satellites.
Kyl urged the Defense Department to spend more on satellite and space programs. Spending on space programs amounts to half of one percent of the Air Forceââ¬â¢s budget, he said. ââ¬ÅThis is clearly not enough.ââ¬Â
The United States has the technology edge and a robust enough economy to out-build and out-spend China on space defenses, he said.
Kyl argued against trying to contain the Chinese threat through treaties and agreements. ââ¬ÅArms control wonââ¬â¢t work,ââ¬Â he said. Treaties banning space weapons would be unverifiable and would almost certainly be broken, he said.
http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2516226&C=airwar
