#SPACE WARFARE IDEAS SERIES#
The establishment of Space Forces marks the start of a process that can upend the use of Outer Space, governed by a series of principles and rules still in force dictated by so-called space law. Finally, the possibly positive effects of investments and research efforts on economic systems and society are considered in the hope that, despite militarization, Outer Space will remain an area of freedom and peaceful collaboration. Since no one is unaware of the potential danger of the militarization of Space, the nature of the risks deriving from the ongoing process is also described here. Once again, in fact, an intense technological competition is taking place, with the only difference that it is now defining the very features of modern warfare.īelow is a review of the Space Forces currently being set up in the main countries and their respective programs. In this sense, the opening of a new aspect of military competition generates behaviors similar to those that marked the Space Race of the 1950s and 1960s. This motivation hides the will to garrison Outer Space for other reasons, such as maintaining - or increasing - one's power and political influence at the international level. A new controversial chapter in space competition is thus opening.įor the time being, all the big countries justify the new corps as structures for the defense of their economic and commercial interests represented by satellites for telecommunications, scientific exploration, and other services. Among these countries, China and Russia had previously received complaints from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom for having repeatedly carried out destructive tests of satellites in orbit.
These initiatives are confirmed by the growing trends in military spending envisaged in their relative budgets.
Other countries with a solid experience in space, such as Russia, China, Japan, and India, have also started building their own Defense Space Corps. ĭonald Trump’s and Emmanuel Macron’s 2019 announcements, just a few weeks apart, around the establishment of a Space Force in their countries confirmed the existence of the process of the militarization of Outer Space (conventionally identified in space and related celestial bodies, starting 100 km above sea level), which now seems to be generally accepted. In addition to indicating the new types of war and weapons, and the risks that are emerging, ways to facilitate cooperation are also considered as well as the possibly positive effects of new technologies on the economy and society. The sources of data and information are from scientific literature, documents of the ministries of defense, reports of parliamentary commissions and bodies of the armed forces.ĭiscussion. The analysis concerns objectives, organizational structures, and size of the resources allocated to R&D in new military technologies. An analysis of the six countries that currently have the most experience in space activities is carried out. What are the programs and resources allocated to the new Space Forces? What new technologies will future wars be fought with? What new risks are being created? Is it possible to slow down the new space race and transform this effort into economic and social opportunities? This race is having consequences on technology, war strategy, and international relations. For some years, various countries have been engaged in a race for the militarization of 'outer space' and the creation of new space forces.
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