Retour aux nouvelles

7 janvier 2019 | Local, Aérospatial

Military expert suggests Canada may want to consider its own space force

By

MONTREAL — President Donald Trump's push to create a U.S. space force is being welcomed by military experts in Canada, and the executive director of one defence think tank says Canada should consider following suit.

"At some point we might like to think about a space force," Matthew Overton, executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, said in an interview. "Thinking about space as a separate entity in itself that deserves attention and expertise, I think is a good idea."

But it is not something that needs to be done immediately, he added, suggesting Canada should first develop a centre of excellence on space knowledge.

Last month, Trump took a first step toward a space force when he signed an order to create a U.S. Space Command, which pulls together space-related units from across military services into a co-ordinated, independent organization.

The move comes amid growing concerns that China and Russia are working on ways to disrupt, disable or even destroy U.S. satellites.

The U.S. air force has operated a space command since 1982, and its mission is "to provide resilient, defendable and affordable space capabilities for the air force." It also operates the mysterious X-37B space plane, known simply as its orbital test vehicle. The unmanned plane has already completed four clandestine missions, carrying classified payloads on long-duration flights.

Overton, who served in the Canadian Forces for 39 years, noted that Canada's Air Force already has a space component. It is led by Brigadier General Kevin Whale, Director General Space. Its mission, a spokesman said by email, is "to maintain space domain awareness, and to develop, deliver and assure space-based capabilities."

Overton said Trump's space force makes a lot of sense, but he expects there will be tension as the new entity gets down to work with other branches of the military. He gave the example of the GPS network, which is crucial for land, air and sea forces, but could become a space force responsibility.

"What is the relationship with other forces? How do you work out that dynamic?""

Wayne Ellis, who served in the Canadian military for 20 years, agrees that a U.S. space force is a good idea.

"I think there's enough activity and potential activity to concentrate resources in that domain, which probably merits a separation from the air force," Ellis, a past president of the Canadian Space Society, said in an interview.

"Perhaps now is a good opportunity to look at a totally separate branch — at least for the U.S."

He noted that Canadian military personnel have worked side by side with the U.S. military for decades. "A lot of these positions are actually space positions at various bases so, at some point, our posted personnel are going to be interacting with the U.S. space force as it gets set up," he added.

James Bezan, the Conservative defence critic, said he wants to see more details about the space capabilities Americans envision.

"For Canada, my sense is that we need to watch this and see how it evolves," he said. Before Canada considers creating its own space force, Bezan added, it should focus on making Norad — the bilateral North American Aerospace Defence Command — more effective.

"I would think that any co-operation that we do with the States as it relates to North American defence, as it relates to aerospace, should be part of the Norad discussions," he said.

Randall Garrison, the NDP defence critic, criticized Trump's plan to launch a sixth branch of the U.S. military.

"New Democrats are fundamentally opposed to the militarization of space and believe that space should only be used by all of humanity for peaceful purposes," he wrote in an email.

"New Democrats urge the government of Canada to uphold the principles of peaceful space exploration and to engage with our allies on a renewed call for the drafting of an international treaty aimed at the prevention of an arms race in space."

Overton pointed out that space has long been exploited for military purposes, and there's no way it can be avoided.

"Communications satellites, GPS and intelligence communications, you name it — all that is there," he said.

The office of the Minister of National Defence noted in a statement that "space-based capabilities have become essential to Canada's operations at home and abroad.

"That is why Canada's defence policy ... commits to investing in a range of space capabilities such as satellite communications, to help achieve global coverage, including the Arctic."

The statement goes on to say that "Canada will continue to promote the peaceful use of space and provide leadership in shaping international norms for responsible behaviour in space."

— With files from The Associated Press.

Peter Rakobowchuk, The Canadian Press

https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2019/01/05/military-expert-suggests-canada-may-want-to-consider-its-own-space-force-2

Sur le même sujet

  • Canada's new top military commander marks international debut in virtual NATO meeting

    29 janvier 2021 | Local, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Canada's new top military commander marks international debut in virtual NATO meeting

    Art McDonald says mutual cooperation and understanding is at the heart of military alliance Murray Brewster · Canada's new top military commander had an international debut of sorts on Wednesday as Admiral Art McDonald attended, via video conference, a meeting of his NATO counterparts. The military alliance's chiefs of defence staff meet on a regular basis and the event was the first for McDonald since he assumed command earlier this month. The discussion was also significant in light of the change in leadership in Washington and the Biden Administration's pledge to reinvigorate ties with allied nations. McDonald, in a Tweet, said "mutual cooperation and understanding is at the heart of the Alliance," but offered no further remarks on the substance of the meeting. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday in a relaxed, friendly discussion that was carried on NATO's YouTube channel. The chat was a stark contrast to some of the free-wheeling, tense and unpredictable media appearances Stoltenberg had with former president Donald Trump, who routinely questioned the value and expense of the alliance. "We've got a mountain of work to do ahead of us, from tackling COVID, to climate, to the security challenges," Biden told the secretary general. "I intend to rebuild and re-establish our alliances, starting with NATO." The words and reassurances were echoed in Stoltenberg's opening remarks to the defence chiefs on Wednesday. He said he was looking forward to working with Biden because "the U.S. and Europe are safer standing together." Push for increased defence spending Under Trump, the U.S. made it a priority to push other NATO nations to spend more on defence and take a greater share of the collective defence burden. In a sign that pressure is not going away, Stoltenberg told the defence chiefs that allies should remain committed to increased military spending, investments in modern capabilities and a higher state of readiness for existing forces. It is a tall order in light of the budget-busting deficits being run by western governments because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Liberal government in Canada has said throughout the crisis that its military spending plans, carved out almost four years ago in its defence policy, are safe from the budget axe. Stoltenberg also said, significantly, that he will present recommendations on how to equip NATO for the future when allied leaders meet in Brussels later this year. And he underlined that he wants NATO to take on a more global approach and work closely with democracies in the Asia-Pacific region. The North Atlantic alliance, which was founded to counter Soviet expansionism in Europe, has increasingly over the last few years grappled with the rise of a more assertive China on the world stage. 'A return to treating allies like allies' A defence analyst said it wasn't hard to spot the lighter mood in the call between Biden and Stoltenberg. "Relief and excitement were the two major emotions — almost palpable — on the call between the Secretary General and President Biden," said Robert Baines, president of the NATO Association of Canada, a non-governmental organization based in Toronto. "The call reminds us just how frayed the tone of the U.S.-NATO relationship has been. None of the statements from the President would have been extraordinary without the context given to them by the past four years." Baines noted Biden's commending of Stoltenberg's "personal diplomacy" over the last few years. "That was no doubt meant to give Mr Stoltenberg some credit for his handling of President Trump," he said. Biden's remarks are significant for Canada because throughout the Trump years the United States often took unexpected unilateral action without consulting allies, Baines added. "Over the past several years, from the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Syria to the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the United States under President Trump was not one that consulted, or even warned, its allies," he said. "On more than one occasion, Canada was left in the lurch because of unilateral action by the United States when our Canadian soldiers were on the ground and potentially in harms-way. President Biden's comments suggest a return to treating allies like allies." https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nato-mcdonald-military-1.5890963

  • Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon would contribute roughly $358M annually to Canada if selected: study - Skies Mag

    31 mai 2023 | Local, Aérospatial

    Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon would contribute roughly $358M annually to Canada if selected: study - Skies Mag

    According to an independent study conducted by Doyletech Corporation, selecting the Boeing P-8 Poseidon for Canada's Multi-Mission Aircraft requirement would bring significant benefits to the country.

  • Liberals award Boeing and U.S. government sole-source deal worth $8 billion for new military surveillance aircraft fleet

    3 décembre 2023 | Local, Aérospatial

    Liberals award Boeing and U.S. government sole-source deal worth $8 billion for new military surveillance aircraft fleet

    Liberal government has awarded the U.S. aerospace giant Boeing a sole source deal worth $8 billion for a fleet of new surveillance aircraft

Toutes les nouvelles