The Growing Military Challenges From Foreign Space Assets

          By Henry Stewart

The US Air Force has released an unclassified report on the growing military challenges posed by foreign controlled space assets.

No sharks, but "frickin" laser beams are included. An interesting overview of potential space based weapons from the NASIC "Competing in Space" report. Graphic c/o NASIC.

The fifteen page report, titled "Competing in Space," contains sections on space trends, assets, applications, satellites, launch capabilities, warfare, situational awareness, cyber and electronic threats, anti-satellite missiles, energy directed weapons in space and an overall outlook for the future.

As outlined in the January 16th, 2019 National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) post, "USAF, NASIC releases unclassified ‘Competing in Space’ assessment," the report was created at the request of Air Force senior leaders by the NASIC public affairs office at Wright PAtterson Air Force Base OH to serve as a discussion awareness tool for the public.

It's essential reading to provide context for American plans to create an independent US Space Force co-equal with other branches of the military.

NASIC is the US Air Force unit tasked with analyzing military intelligence on foreign air and space forces, their weapons and systems.

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Henry Stewart is the pseudonym of a Toronto based aerospace writer.