Ukrinform reports that US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb said this at a hearing in Congress.

“For the US Department of Defense, space is crucial to how we compete and fight in any field. “It allows you to detect and track missiles that are important for the protection of our homeland,” he said.

In addition, according to him, activity in space provides communication in difficult conditions, as well as navigation, including accurate hitting of targets. This makes space crucial in determining how the United States will wage its war.

“America’s enemies understand this,” Plumb continued.

He emphasized that Russia and China, in particular, are creating and developing new modern capabilities to prevent the US from carrying out space missions.

“In just the last few years, the number and quality of counterspace threats has increased significantly,” he added.

Yes, China has already developed ground-based anti-space weapons and continues to seek new ways to threaten US satellites. In addition, the PRC is building a space architecture that will allow its military to deliver precision strikes at long distances.

“China is ultimately seeking to challenge our ability to conduct joint operations in the Indo-Pacific region,” Plumb said.

At the same time, Russia is developing, testing and deploying its own anti-space systems. This includes land-based and space-based kinetic anti-satellite weapons.

In this context, a Pentagon official emphasized that the President’s proposed $33.3 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 invests in the capabilities needed to meet these challenges. This is about 15% more than in the current year.

Plumb also noted that it aims to contribute to research, development, testing and experiments that will further integrate space services into the joint force.

As Ukrinform reported, in early March, the US administration submitted to Congress the draft state budget for the fiscal year 2024, which will begin on October 1 this year. Moreover, demand for defense needs exceeded $835 billion, one of the highest levels of financing in all post-war history. https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-world/3679561-cogoricnij-budzet-pentagonu-peredbacit-rekordnu-sumu-na-zakupivlu-ozbroenna-zmi.html