June 16, 2005. Copyright, 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved

U.S. space plan could trigger new arms race

LONDON, June 16, Graphic News: U.S. President Bush is expected to approve a national security directive in the coming weeks that could move the United States closer to fielding offensive and defensive weapons in space.

Any deployment of space weapons would almost surely spark a fierce debate, with critics challenging how practical and affordable they will be and whether they will trigger a new and far more dangerous arms race.

Proponents say that such weapons are needed to protect the U.S. homeland and its satellites in space that provide crucial military and civilian services. A commission under then Defense Secretary-designate Donald Rumsfeld had earlier warned that the U.S. could face a ÒSpace Pearl Harbor,Ó referring to the Japanese attack on U.S. naval forces in Hawaii in 1941.

Theresa Hitchens, of the Washington-based Center for Defense Information, said a new presidential directive would replace President Bill ClintonÕs 1996 U.S. National Space Policy.

Since then, ÒThe main emphasis in U.S. space policy was on the peaceful uses of outer space,Ó she said. In particular, the Clinton administration was hostile to space warfare and space weapons and limited military uses of space to ÒstabilizingÓ purposes such as surveillance satellites to monitor potential weapons deployments and verification of arms-control agreements.

By contrast, the Bush administration has approved a number of steps towards the weaponisation of the final frontier: RumsfeldÕs 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review, the U.S. Air ForceÕs 2003-4 Transformation Flight Plan and the USAFÕs 2004 Doctrine Document on Counterspace Operations.

With little public debate, the U.S. has spent billions of dollars developing space-based weapons and preparing plans to deploy them at a momentÕs notice to strike any location on the face of the Earth. The annual Pentagon budget received $9.9 billion for space weapons research in 2004, with $8.8 billion committed in fiscal year 2005. This is in addition to $10.7 billion for ballistic missile defense (BMD) in 2005, bringing the total on BMD research and technology to $130 billion to date.

Most of the actual space weapon projects featured in the Transformation Flight Plan stress the need for controlling the space arena and ÒnegationÓ of an enemyÕs satellites and sensors.

ÒThe White House is trying to ÔspinÕ the issue,Ó says Hitchens. ÒThe controversial nature of offensive space weapons is readily apparent to them. Therefore the party line -- including the air force -- is to stress the need to ÔprotectÕ our satellites.Ó



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The plans include a new generation of ASAT anti-satellite systems -- small air-launched missiles capable of intercepting satellites in low Earth orbit. These include:

A Space-Based Space Surveillance System (SBSS) to detect and track space objects such as satellites and orbital debris. The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing and Ball Aerospace a $189 million SBSS developmental contract in March 2004.

CAVs: Common Aero Vehicles launched from a military space plane. CAVs would be unpowered, hypersonic glide craft which would guide and dispense conventional weapons, or other payloads worldwide from space within one hour of tasking. In 2002 six contractors began an $88 million, programme to fly a operational system by 2007.

Hypervelocity Rod Bundles: Nicknamed ÒRods from God,Ó tungsten metal rods would drop from satellites to strike ground targets anywhere in the world from space. However, how to stop them burning up in the EarthÕs atmosphere poses an obvious problem.

High-energy lasers: This concept includes airborne, ground-based and space-based lasers used in conjunction with airborne or space-based relay mirrors to project different laser powers. In September 2003, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $40 million development contract to build a high-altitude airship prototype.

As part of BMD, Boeing is the prime contractor for developing the airborne laser, ABL, carried in a modified 747-400F freight aircraft. The ABL aircraft has been test-flown a total of six times to date, with the most recent flight in January. A ground-based test, called ÒFirst Light,Ó of the 12,250kg (27,000lb) laser weapon took place last November at Edwards Air Force Base, in California. 

The U.S. General Accounting Office has estimated that the first full demonstration of the ABL system will cost some $3 billion. The intention is to equip seven 747-400F aircraft with lasers capable of destroying medium-range ballistic missiles or satellites.

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Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said any move by the U.S. to start developing and testing space-based weapons will be met with very strong international condemnation, from foes and allies alike.

ÒThis is a military system that is unnecessary and provocative. It will lead other states to pursue military systems to knock out our space-based assets. The rationale of this program is to defend those assets. But this will have the reverse effect,Ó said Kimball.

Sources: Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, GlobalSecurity.org, USAF; U.S. Department of Defense; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 
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