The Chief of Staff of the United Kingdom Air Force, Michael Wigston, claims that Moscow and Beijing are carrying out "dubious operations" in space, including conducting flights of their own satellites in "close proximity" to others
LONDON, July 30. /TASS/. The British military command believes that the activities of Russia and China in space pose a threat to the security of the country. The corresponding opinion was expressed on Thursday by the Chief of Staff of the United Kingdom Air Force, Michael Wigston, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.
According to him, Moscow and Beijing carry out "dubious operations" in space, including conducting flights of their own satellites in "close proximity" to others, and also engage in other "dangerous activities" on a daily basis that can lead to the destruction of satellites of third countries. Wigston suggested that Russia and China are collecting intelligence data in space, because, according to the British military commander, there is reason to believe that future conflicts "will be won or lost in outer space." He also claimed that over the past year, Russia has placed a number of satellites that "have the characteristics of weapons."
In addition, he said that China continues to "improve anti-satellite technologies," as an example, pointing to the development of missiles that can directly destroy satellites, as well as "laser blinding weapons" and mechanisms for "carrying out intentional radio interference." He added that the PRC conducted appropriate tests against "its own outdated satellites in order to demonstrate its capabilities."
Wigston's corresponding statements were made against the background of the official ceremony of the creation of the United Kingdom space command, which took place on Thursday at the air base in the city of High Wycombe in the south-east of England. The initial task of the new structure will be the implementation of the first launch of a British rocket with a satellite from the territory of Scotland in 2022. As noted in the comprehensive review of security, defense and foreign policy issues presented in March, the UK intends to play a more significant role in the global space industry in the coming decade.
Earlier, a number of high-ranking American generals expressed concern about Russia's actions in space. In response to such allegations, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, said that Moscow appreciates cooperation with Washington in space and hopes that it will not fall victim to Russophobia. He called the Americans ' fears completely groundless, stressing that Moscow stands for peace and cooperation.
