Star wars with the Russians

BRITAIN must prepare to defend itself in space as powers such as Russia and China are already developing offensive weapons to use outside of Earth, the Defence Secretary has claimed.

Ben Wallace said that the ‘binary distinctions between war and peace have disappeared’ and that ‘threats are coming from all different angles’.

Speaking at the Air and Space Power Conference, which was held virtually, he said: ‘For too many years we simply sat back admiring the problem...

‘We know, all the while, that Russia and China are developing offensive weapons in space – a major cause for concern given that satellites don’t just provide our global communications, critical intelligence and surveillance and navigation, but underpin our critical national infrastructure from mobile phones to cashpoints to the stock market.

‘That is why in the future what’s above you will be often more important than what is in front of you.’