Admiral Teodoro López Calderón stresses that the Spanish Armed Forces need to equip themselves with capabilities to conduct operations in space

JEMAD warns of trend towards militarisation of outer space

photo_camera PHOTO/JEMAD - The JEMAD has just warned that the trend towards the militarisation of space and the easy accessibility and cheapness of technologies will generate friction and even conflict over the rights to occupy space orbits

The Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, warned in Santander that "the possibility of deploying weapons systems and the need to protect assets in orbit is leading to a growing militarisation of space".

From the point of view of Spain's highest military authority, the as yet unrealised tendency to deploy weaponry in the outer space scenario, together with the easier access and cheaper price of space technologies, "is increasingly encouraging competition for space hegemony". Both aspects, in the JEMAD's view, 'will most likely generate friction and even conflict over rights to use and occupy space orbits'.

Juan Pons

Admiral Lopez Calderón stressed that it is necessary to "protect access to space for our space assets" and that the Spanish Armed Forces, as a "major player" in the field of Security and Defence in space, "need to equip themselves with capabilities that allow them to carry out operations in space".

The JEMAD expressed his concerns to just over a hundred senior commanders of the Armed Forces, officials from the Ministries of the Interior, Industry, Transport, Science and Innovation and executives from the Spanish space sector linked to defence and security matters. This took place at the opening ceremony of the 14th edition of the seminar 'Satellites as a key element for defence and government applications', held behind closed doors in Santander from 7 to 9 September.

Space systems are essential for operations

The conclave took place at the European University of the Atlantic and the decision to hold the seminar without light and stenographers was taken by its organisers, the Spanish aerospace and defence companies Acorde, Airbus, GMV, Hisdesat, Indra, Isdefe, Sener, Telefónica, Thales Alenia Space España, on the grounds that "without the presence of the media, the speakers can express themselves more freely".

Juan Pons

But although not much, something important has come out. In addition to what has already been mentioned, Admiral López Calderón also stressed the "enormous importance" of space capabilities for the Spanish army and navy. "They support us with a series of products and services that are increasingly essential in our operations," he added.

The seminar was brought to a close by the Secretary of State for Defence (SEDEF), Amparo Valcarce, who welcomed "the double assignment of the future Spanish Space Agency to the Departments of Defence and Science and Innovation", a two-tier structure included in the third additional provision of the recently approved new Science Act, published on 5 September in the Official State Gazette (BOE).

Juan Pons

For the SEDEF, this dual dependence "will allow the state to approach space as a promoter, regulator and coordinator of the efforts and needs of both the public and private sectors". In his speech, he also spoke of space becoming an "important catalyst" for the transformation of international relations in the field of security, "a trend that is reflected in both the European Union and NATO".

Half a hundred civilian and military speakers

He also emphasised that public-private collaboration "is one of the aspects of the government's industrial policy" and highlighted the unique contractual relationship that his ministry maintains with the company Hisdesat in secure satellite communications and Earth observation programmes. In his opinion, they "strengthen" the technological and industrial base of defence in order to provide the Armed Forces with the capabilities they need, "promoting dual technological activities and the creation of qualified jobs".

Juan Pons

Defence claims that over the next 20 years, "the ministry and Hisdesat are going to invest 4 billion euros in Earth observation and secure satellite communications programmes". If these forecasts are fulfilled, it will mean an annual average of 200 million euros, which, according to Margarita Robles' ministry, will result in the creation of "1,500 highly qualified jobs".

Around fifty civilian and military speakers presented the plans, needs and experiences of their organisations in relation to the operational space capabilities of the Spanish Armed Forces and even the contribution of the General State Administration to space security. The seminar also addressed the support provided by space to military operations, observation programmes and satellite communications. The importance of R&D&I in the space field and the challenges for the national industry posed by defence space programmes were also discussed.

Among the speakers at the different round tables were the Chief of the Defence Staff Operations Command, Air Lieutenant General Francisco Braco; the Commissioner of the Aerospace PERTE, Miguel Belló; the Director of the Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS), General Antonio Romero; the 2nd Chief of the Joint Cyberspace Command, Rear Admiral Francisco Javier Roca; and the 2nd Chief of the Air and Space Staff, Air Lieutenant General Ignacio Bengoechea.

Juan Pons

Also the director of Space, Large Installations and Dual Programmes of the CDTI, Juan Carlos Cortés, together with the head of its Space Department, Jorge Lomba; the head of the Combat Air Command, Air Lieutenant General Francisco González-Espresati; the head of the Aerospace Surveillance and Control System, Air General Fernando Carrillo; the head of the Civil Guard Telecommunications Service, Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Izquierdo...

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