Secretary of Defense Austin is Updated on Strategic Space Systems

Article by Adam                                        April 5, 2021                                         (nmtribune.com)

• On March 25th, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was briefed on the state of the DoD’s space systems and national security challenges in space. John Hill, the assistant secretary in charge of the defense for space affairs, headed Austin’s meeting attended by officials from Space Force, the US Space Command, and the National Reconnaissance Office, some in person and others via video teleconference.

• The briefing was meant to get Austin up to speed on space projects, the framework of the national defense space industry, and obstacles the US is facing in the space domain. China’s technical developments and space aspirations were also discussed. Biden has made technical rivalry with China a focal point for expenditure and policy decisions. Earlier in March, Austin assembled a “China Task Force” of senior government officials to offer suggestions about coping with China’s aspirations.

• “Serious and increasing risks to United States national security interests” are raised by Chinese and Russian space operations, according to Austin. In written confirmation hearings to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Austin said that the “strategic climate continues to change rapidly, particularly as it relates to space.” As defense secretary, he would embrace a national defense policy that addresses the “continued development of adversary space as well as counter space capacities.”

• US allies Japan and South Korea are increasingly anxious about China’s broad maritime assertions, technical advancements in space and other fields. In an address last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States should “engage all nations, like China and Russia, in establishing principles and norms of responsible conduct in outer space.”

• US military commanders in the Indo-Pacific area are worried about China’s potential to interrupt GPS and other vital communications satellites. They have called for increased investments in advanced space systems technology. Austin will have to weigh combatant commanders’ demands for more money amid economic constraints and proposals to cut military budgets as he prepares to make his first budget proposal to Congress.

Last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin got a comprehensive report on the

Department of Defense’s space systems and national security challenges in space. Since taking office, this was Austin’s first high-level consultation on space concerns. In a comment to SpaceNews, Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby stated, “Secretary Austin was delighted to obtain a briefing on the space realm.”

Kirby stated he couldn’t elaborate on the exact topics addressed at the March 25 conference, but Austin “recognizes the relevance of this area to our national security,” according to Kirby. John Hill, who is serving as the assistant secretary in charge of the defense for space affairs, headed Austin’s meeting. Senior officials from the United States Space Force, United States Space Command, as well as the National Reconnaissance Office were present, some in person and others via video teleconference.

As per several outlets, the briefing was meant to get Austin up to speed on space projects, the framework of the national defense space industry, as well as the obstacles the United States confronts in the space domain. According to these sources, China’s technical developments and space aspirations were also discussed. The Biden government has made technical rivalry with China a focal point for expenditure and policy decisions. Austin assembled a “China task force” of senior government officials earlier this month to make suggestions about coping with China’s problems.

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