Russia officially enters space arms race

by Stevie Smith - Mar 6 2009, 16:45

It’s been a busy 24 hours when it comes to talk of advances in space weaponry. Following a retired Russian general’s suggestion that February’s satellite collision was engineered by the United States, a deputy defence minister for the Russian government has revealed the country is developing an anti-satellite weapons system.

According to an Associated Press report, General Valentin Popovkin has said the weapons array is being created as a way for Russia to push the modernisation of its nuclear capabilities and maintain momentum alongside similar technology held by other nations.

Gen. Popovkin, former chief of Russian Military Space Forces, also insisted that Russia is opposed to entering into a space arms race, but its current and future responses are in direct relation to activity made by other countries.

For example, the Chinese military destroyed one of its orbiting satellites with a surface-launched test missile in 2007. And, in February of 2008, the U.S. successfully stuck one of its own defunct spy satellites with a defence system missile.

Although now actively seeking to bolster their own positions with individual missile defence systems, both the Chinese and Russian governments have previously opposed the U.S. for pushing the development of space-based missiles and ground lasers, unsuccessfully seeking an international ban on such technology in the process.

In terms of enlarging its capabilities, Popovkin has reportedly said the government is providing around $42 billion USD for the purchase of 10 new intercontinental ballistic missiles that will be ready before the close of 2009, while several dozen short-range Iskander missiles will also be secured in the same time frame.

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