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Russia Poses 'Serious' and 'Growing' Threats to US in Space

Carla Babb

   WASHINGTON - Russiacontinuesto pose "serious" and "growing" threatsto
   U.S.interests in space, according to the top military officer for space
   defense.

   "They're real, they're serious and they're concerning,"Gen. John
   Raymond, chief of the newly established U.S. Space Force and head of
   U.S. Space Command, told reporters Wednesday.

   "Our advantage has beendiminished, and that's why the establishment of
   the Space Force in the Aerospace Command is so important--to allow us
   to move fast with agility of effort, reducing costs to stay ahead of
   that growing threat,"he added.

   The realm of space is essential to everyday activities from navigation
   to banking. Space assets are also critical to military missions from
   launching missiles to collecting intelligence.

   Raymond did not elaborate when pressed for specific areas where the
   U.S. advantage is eroding but touted"significant strides" over recent
   months toremain the world leaderin space.

   Raymond creditedhavingthe"best partnerships"as a major reason the
   United Statesleads in space, confirming that Peruthis month becamethe
   latest nation to join a U.S.-led networkthatsharesinformation on space
   objects.

   The data-sharing space situational awareness agreementwill give Peru
   access to satellite tracking data,connectingPeru's space agency withthe
   military team thattracksspace objects for the United States.

   Raymondwarned, however, that as the United States has watchedbothRussia
   and China advance in space capabilities,"any progress they makecould
   erode our advantage."

   Russia and China have recently placed a greater emphasis on their space
   capabilities, including developing technology and weapons that could
   disrupt or destroy satellites.

   "Our adversaries in the last several years have weaponized
   space.They've made it a war fighting domain,"Secretary of Defense Mark
   Esper said Friday.