by Great Britain loses space arms and must start using civilian satellites for defense, said the head of the European Space Authority (ESA).
Josef Aschbacher, General Director of the ESA, said that Russia, India and Japan “increase the investments in the defense area” in space “, while Great Britain and Europe remain dangerously.
In November, the European countries will make a decision on the space financing priorities in the coming years, and Dr. Aschbacher said that money should be spent on preventing the defense.
In the Telegraph, he wrote: “In today’s uncertain world, traditional diplomacy and cooperation are increasingly disturbed by power policy, economic uncertainty and strategic competition.
“We have to face a tough truth throughout the UK and the rest of Europe: we are not prepared for this new reality.”
Dr. Aschbacher urged Britain to “act quickly and determined” in order to create resistance to the growing threat from the room.
“While the defense accounts for half of all public space expenditure worldwide, this number in Europe is only 15 percent and asks urgent questions about the strategic priorities and the attitude of security in the region,” he said.
“A promising path lies in two user space systems that meet both civil and defense needs.”
In the Council of Ministers in November, the ESA will introduce its European resistance from the space program, which provides for the use of straw observation data for resilience and security purposes.
Great Britain and Europe will enable access to improved navigation and safe connectivity in times of natural crises and wars.
Great Britain is increasingly concerned that the room becomes a war theater. Attacks on communication satellites are probably the first act of aggression in new conflicts.
China and Russia have both tested antisatellite rockets, while Moscow allegedly developed a program to arm some of its satellites with nuclear warheads, which means that it could destroy enemy networks in orbit.
Always complex space weapons
According to the recent evaluation of the space threat of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the nations are developing increasingly elaborate space weapons.
This includes electromagnetic impulses, microwaves and lasers to fry electronics, blind people for blind optical sensors and grappers to stick to satellites and pull them out of orbit.
China, Russia, Iran and North Korea all have the ability to jam and kidnap satellite signals and start cyber attacks.
Us Space Force Commanders have also warned that Chinese satellites were discovered as “dog construction fights” in space and move within less than one mile.
The space command was set up in the RAF High Wycombe in 2021 to protect and defend the British interest in space, but Dr. Aschbacher said that more to protect British and European interests.
He said: “Together we are on a crossroads. With increasing geopolitical instability and swaying support, Great Britain has to welcome this opportunity to build their own strategic autonomy with Europe.
“In November, the nation will have the opportunity to make courageous decisions that influence the long -term space ambitions of Europe.
“This is a golden opportunity to choose ambition about hesitation, tour of delays and visions about complacency. Let’s be brave enough to take it.
“In the minister, the ESA will propose a program called European resilience from the space that provides for the use of straw observation data for resilience and security purposes, which will lead to a system that also includes improved navigation and safe connectivity.”
In order to thrive in a volatile world, Britain should invest in Europe
By Josef Aschbacher
In today’s uncertain world, traditional diplomacy and cooperation are increasingly disturbed by power policy, economic uncertainty and strategic competition. We have to face a tough truth throughout the UK and the rest of Europe: we are not prepared for this new reality.
Weaknesses are increasingly – in defense, trade, energy, AI and quantum technologies and the stability of the supply chain. As a member of the European Space Agency (ESA), Great Britain has a clear advantage.
This November, the ESA will organize its Ministerial Council to determine the financing priorities for the coming years that enable the United Kingdom to act quickly and determined to build its resilience with its European neighbors.
The place is not only a playground for billionaires, it is also involved in the fabric of our daily life.
From the weather forecast, about 80 percent of the information from satellites, to precision agriculture, satellite navigation, the Satom-enabled payments, air quality monitoring and rocket tracking in Ukraine.
Space technology operates our economy, protects our environment and protects our limits. Although the global powers such as the USA, China and India – not because of their superior talent, but on their bold investments – invest in Europe, underpinning Europe in space.
An urgent area in which Europe can bundle its resources and play in its strengths is in defense where Europe and space remains dangerously underfunded. Defense and space are already complementary and even dependent – satellites and their data must be kept safe in space, and satellites and their data can ensure security on site.
When China expanded its dominance of 2,800 satellites with an intelligence network and the United States is driving its Starshield program for real-time earth surveillance, countries such as Russia, India and Japan are also increasing investments for defense purposes in space.
While the defense makes up half of all public space expenditure worldwide, this number in Europe is only 15 percent, which raises urgent questions about the strategic priorities and the attitude of security in the region. As the head of a civil space agency, I see ESA use her talents and skills to help in Great Britain and Europe at this volatile time.
A promising path lies in two user space systems that meet both civil and defense needs.
By tightening the budgets at European level, the ESA can offer a quick and inexpensive defense layer to strengthen resilience and at the same time promote science, environmental surveillance and economic growth.
No new legal or international agreements are required: ESA already offers the framework that summarizes the best assets of the UK and Europe and enables immediate financing assignment in coordination with its 23 Member States.
The global space economy is growing
Just consider why the space is worth an investment for a moment. The global space industry is expanding with an impressive rate of almost 10 percent annually, whereby the global GDP growth exceeds and competes with the fastest growing sectors in the world.
The space industry is fueled from breakthroughs in satellite communication, navigation, strawening and other space technologies and will be tripled to 1.6 TN by 2035. Since the global space economy increases, the representation of Europe within the global foundation in 2024. We risk losing our independence and autonomy in space against foreign governments and trading companies.
The story shows that in times of geopolitical tension and economic stress, investing in future technologies leads to growth and resilience. America’s Apollo program that was initiated during the Vietnam War that questioned the global superiority of the United States caused American resilience and technological dominance. South Korea’s recovery from the Asian financial crisis was promoted by a focus on technology and innovation, which contributed to becoming a global technology leader. Investing in space means shaping the future of nations and continents.
Europe has intellectual excellence and the ESA the track balance sheet through its leading straw observation systems worldwide, the world’s most precise navigation system and its state-of-the-art scientific missions to map the universe and look for signs of extraterrestrial life on the moons of Jupiter. However, this excellence is at risk. Talent drifts where the excitement is – and this can often be found outside of Europe, as large money leads to large and exciting projects. In order to maintain its leadership, Europe has to put its money where his ambition is.
Together we stand on a crossroads. With increasing geopolitical instability and fluctuating US support, Great Britain has to welcome this opportunity to build its own strategic autonomy with Europe. In November, the nation will have the opportunity to make courageous decisions that influence the long -term space ambitions of Europe. This is a golden opportunity to choose ambition about hesitation, tour of delays and visions about complacency. Let us be brave enough to take it.
Josef Aschbacher is general director of the European space agency
