Donald Trump’s Space Force to train ‘lethal’ astronaut soldiers in ‘orbital warfare’
DONALD Trump's Space Force is training an elite squad of "lethal" astronaut soldiers in "orbital warfare".
The specially trained Space Warfighters are set to protect US interests in space and "deter and defeat adversaries ... in the crowded, contested space domain", the force has said.
Training began Tuesday last week where the 319 CTS instructor cadre debuted its Space Warfighting courses at Peterson’s Moorman Space Education and Training Center in Colorado.
A news release issued by the US Space Force read: "Without highly trained space professionals, the U.S. Space Force cannot effectively utilize space systems to increase joint force lethality, cannot ensure the safety of the American public, nor can it defend against near-peer adversaries."
SPACE WARRIORS
Space Combat Training Squadron commander Lt. Col. Daniel Sebeck said it was the Force's "responsibility" to produce "lethal warfighters ready to execute combat operations in the complex space environment of today and tomorrow".
“Our modern lives depend on our space capabilities, and potential adversaries are actively attempting to exploit the benefits space provides us,” he explained.
“Every day our space warfighters purposefully prepare to negate potential adversaries’ attempts to claim space superiority over us.”
The new series of courses are designed to give space professionals "warfighting mindsets" and are based around the disciples of Orbital Warfare, Space Battle Management and Space Electronic Warfare.
Lt. Col. Sebeck said: "These courses are designed to execute one of the primary missions of USSPACECOM: to develop ready and lethal joint warfighters in order to enhance space warfighting readiness and lethality.
“With the implementation of SWD training, the U.S. Space Force is transforming the way the U.S. military develops its space warfighters and is laying the foundation for a highly trained, ready force.
Every day our space warfighters purposefully prepare to negate potential adversaries’ attempts to claim space superiority over us.
Combat Training Squadron commander Lt. Col. Daniel Sebeck
The cadre of space warfighters will protect U.S. interests in space and "deter aggression in, from and to space", Sebeck explained.
As well as conducting routine space operations, members of the elite squad will be fully versed in space warfare discipline.
"Space is a warfighting domain," the Space Force said, adding it must be "secured and protected by the Space Force, in the same way the land, sea and air are protected by the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force."
"A passive mindset toward tactical operations is dangerous," Sebeck added.
“The development and integration of space professionals is a cornerstone of the way we fight wars.
“We must be ready and lethal, and it is our responsibility as the U.S. Space Force to provide space warfighters the training to defeat threats in the crowded, contested space domain.”
SPACE: 'THE NEXT WARFIGHTING DOMAIN'
Last year, President Trump announced the launch of SPACECOM, the precursor to the establishment of the United States Space Force.
Trump said the newest combatant command would “defend America’s vital interests in space — the next warfighting domain”.
“It’s a big deal,” Trump insisted.
"This is a landmark day…one that recognises the centrality of space to America's national security and defence."
He said Space Command, headed by a four-star Air Force general, will "ensure that America's dominance in space is never questioned and never threatened."
Trump added that it’s vital for the US to freely operate in space so any potential missile attacks can be “detected and destroyed”.
“Now, those who wish to harm the United States to — seek to challenge us in the ultimate high ground of space,” Trump said.
“It’s going to be a whole different ball game.
“Our freedom to operate in space is also essential to detecting and destroying any missile launched against the United States.”
The President added that SPACECOM will soon be followed by the establishment of the United States Space Force.
Shortly after, Vice President Mike Pence announced plans to create a new, separate Space Force as a sixth military service by 2020 on August 9.
Space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea.
President Donald Trump
Upon graduating from Undergraduate Space Training, new accessions and cross-trainees will immediately move on to the Space Warfighting Follow-on courses.
Sebeck explained: “Space warfighters will learn about threats and how space combat disciplines are utilized from the beginning of their career in the Space Force.”
The courses were developed with input from stakeholder units across the USSF, the 319th CTS’ team of instructors and a mix of active duty, reserve and contractor personnel.
“The SWF courses are adding an additional layer of depth to the space training pipeline in order to produce more lethal warfighters ready to execute combat operations in the complex space environment of today and tomorrow,” Sebeck said.
'SUPER DUPER' MISSILE
President Donald Trump told reporters in May that the US was developing a "Super Duper" missile capable of travelling 17 times faster than conventional missiles.
"[We're] building right now incredible military equipment... We have, I call it the Super Duper Missile, and I heard the other night 17 times faster than what they have right now, when you take the fastest missile we have right now", Trump said before unveiling an official flag for Space Force, the newest branch of the military.
During the ceremony, held earlier this month, the flag was unfurled and a proclamation denoting Armed Forces Day alongside military leaders was signed.
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The announcements come after the US Space Force issued a $2.4bn contract to defence company Northrop Grumman to build two missile early detection satellites by the end of December 2025.
The United States already has some space fighting infrastructure and much of its military set-up has input from space technology — from long-range missiles to satellite tracking.
The Colorado-based Air Force Space Command in 1982 includes more than 36,000 personnel around the world that provide space and cyber capabilities for the Defense Department.
In March, the Space Force launched its first successful mission since its establishment as a US military service.
The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket was sent into space after being designed to make sure national leaders can stay in touch with the armed forces.
Can Donald Trump fight wars in outer space?
- The Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967, prevents nations from placing weapons of mass destruction outside the orbit of the Earth, including storing them on a secret moon base.
- However, the treaty does not prohibit conventional weapons being sent into outer-space.
- More than 100 countries have signed up to the pact.
- It also prohibits any nation from seizing a celestial body, or planet, to claim it as their own.
- The agreement states that any member state that launches a 'space object' has jurisdiction over it, and is also liable for damages it causes.
Terrifying space weapons of the future
Here are three of the scariest...
Rods from God
- A strange but utterly terrifying weapon has been dubbed "rods from the God" and is based on the concept of creating man-made meteorites that can be guided towards the enemy.
- Instead of using rocks rods the size of telephone poles are deployed.
- These would be made out of tungsten — a rare metal that can stand the intense heat generated by entering Earth's atmosphere.
- One satellite fires the rods towards the Earth's atmosphere while the other steers them to a target on the ground.
- Reaching speeds of 7000mph they hit the ground with the force of a small nuclear weapon — but crucially creating no radiation fall out.
- As bizarre as it sounds, a US Congressional report recently revealed the military has been pushing ahead with the kinetic space weapons.
Molten metal cannons
- This intriguing idea is being developed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
- It is called the Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition or MAHEM.
- This game changing rail-gun can fire a jet of molten metal, hurled through space at several hundred miles per second by the most powerful electromagnets ever built.
- The molten metal can then morph into an aerodynamic slug during flight and pierce through another spacecraft or satellite and a munition explodes inside.
Space force ships
- Already the United States is powering ahead with its spacecraft, although China is busy developing one of their own.
- The top secret American XS-1 under development by DARPA.
- It can travel ten times the speed of sound and launch missiles.
- Meanwhile an unmanned craft is currently being developed in the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre in Mianyang, Sichuan province, which is also known as Base 29.
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