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Recently, with the launch into orbit by the National Intelligence Agency and the US Space Forces of the critically important Silent Barker satellite constellation, the head of the US Air Force Space Systems Command, Lieutenant General J. Michael Getlane (Getlin) he said that this system would "deter aggression", showing that the United States has eyes in space.
However, despite the importance of Silent Barker for improving strategic communications, it is not a deterrent to aggression in space, the American edition of Defense News notes.
To achieve the deterrence effect, three main components are required: the credibility of the threat, the capabilities (i.e. weapons) combined with the determination to use them and the expression of a desire to use these capabilities to prevent an attack on critical space infrastructure, the newspaper writes. According to the authors of Defense News, it is important to understand that both physical and psychological readiness is required to ensure genuine deterrence of aggression against US interests in space.
According to the publication, when the United States or any other country, for that matter, announces a deterrent threat to an enemy state, this threat should be perceived by the enemy as credible. To deter rivals, the will of States to resist their opponents is more important. If the State is ready to take retaliatory measures or actively deter the actions of the enemy, regardless of the level of escalation, then most likely the status quo can be maintained with the help of deterrence. However, if the state does not want to bring its threats to an end and continues to stand on this over time, then the credibility of the threat will decrease to the level of inefficiency, the authors of Defense News believe.
In their opinion, the presence of a space indication and warning system, such as Silent Barker, is a very important step in preventing sudden potential attacks on the American critical space infrastructure. However, the United States has not demonstrated that it has the authority, capabilities and firm determination to use these weapons as a reliable deterrent
- Christopher Stone, senior researcher on space deterrence at the National Research Institute, emphasizes.
In June of this year, it became known that the United States is preparing to deploy the Silent Barker satellite constellation, the purpose of which is "timely detection of threats" in outer space.