Space war WARNING: UK faces 'difficult' battle against Russia and China, RAF chief warns
BRITAIN is facing a "difficult" battle against Russia and China for control of space, a senior Royal Air Force officer has warned.
By Joshua Nevett Published 9th May 2018
Air Vice-Marshal Edward Jackson Stringer said Britain’s military “absolutely depends” on space technology to protect the nation.
More than 90% of UK military activity relies on space technology to function properly, Stringer said at a panel discussion hosted by London-based think tank Policy Exchange.
Satellites and GPS systems used for reconnaissance operations, intelligence gathering and guiding weapons systems play a “core” role in military activ
ities, he said.
But in a veiled warning, Stringer said “adversaries” such as Russia and China are “making it difficult” for the military to defend Britain’s assets in space.
SPACE BATTLE :RAF Officer Edward Stringer said Britain is facing a 'contested environment'
“Space is a part of everything we do,” Stringer, former Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, said at the event in Westminster on Wednesday.
“We are operating in a contested environment against adversaries that are making it difficult for us and could make it even more difficult.
“We rely on our partners across all industries to allow us to compete in that environment.”
Stringer was speaking at an event where a panel of guests were discussing how Britain’s space industry could compete on a global scale.
DISCUSSION :Edward Stringer spoke at an event about the future of Britain's space industry
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His comments mirror those of Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, who last month said Britain is “very heavily dependent upon space”.
Sir Stephen said “global networks we rely on” are being challenged by Russia, whose flouting of international rules suggests there could be confrontation in space.
He played down the prospect of a “war in space”, but warned that Russia and other states are trying to “deny some of our specific capabilities”.
"We already see that to a significant degree and we need to be prepared to deal with that threat,” he said at a lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London.
In his speech, Stringer said the RAF has embraced space technology in its strategy to defend the nation.
He said: “There used to be an assumption that space was just something that happened.
“Largely done by technical people that you never saw and you could just rely on it.
“Space is very much a contested environment for us.
“I thought, we need to mainstream this capacity, and we’ve done that.”
BRITAIN is facing a "difficult" battle against Russia and China for control of space, a senior Royal Air Force officer has warned.
By Joshua Nevett Published 9th May 2018
Air Vice-Marshal Edward Jackson Stringer said Britain’s military “absolutely depends” on space technology to protect the nation.
More than 90% of UK military activity relies on space technology to function properly, Stringer said at a panel discussion hosted by London-based think tank Policy Exchange.
Satellites and GPS systems used for reconnaissance operations, intelligence gathering and guiding weapons systems play a “core” role in military activ
But in a veiled warning, Stringer said “adversaries” such as Russia and China are “making it difficult” for the military to defend Britain’s assets in space.
SPACE BATTLE :RAF Officer Edward Stringer said Britain is facing a 'contested environment'
“Space is a part of everything we do,” Stringer, former Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, said at the event in Westminster on Wednesday.
“We are operating in a contested environment against adversaries that are making it difficult for us and could make it even more difficult.
“We rely on our partners across all industries to allow us to compete in that environment.”
Stringer was speaking at an event where a panel of guests were discussing how Britain’s space industry could compete on a global scale.
DISCUSSION :Edward Stringer spoke at an event about the future of Britain's space industry
RELATED ARTICLES
NASA reveals plan to blast NUCLEAR REACTOR to MARS
Weather WEAPONISATION fears as expert warns modification technology to be tested this year
His comments mirror those of Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, who last month said Britain is “very heavily dependent upon space”.
Sir Stephen said “global networks we rely on” are being challenged by Russia, whose flouting of international rules suggests there could be confrontation in space.
He played down the prospect of a “war in space”, but warned that Russia and other states are trying to “deny some of our specific capabilities”.
"We already see that to a significant degree and we need to be prepared to deal with that threat,” he said at a lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London.
In his speech, Stringer said the RAF has embraced space technology in its strategy to defend the nation.
He said: “There used to be an assumption that space was just something that happened.
“Largely done by technical people that you never saw and you could just rely on it.
“Space is very much a contested environment for us.
“I thought, we need to mainstream this capacity, and we’ve done that.”
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