World
US Space Force Has Activated A Dedicated Unit To Target Adversary Satellites And Ground Stations
Swarajya News Staff
Aug 21, 2023, 05:27 PM | Updated 05:27 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
The first and only unit of the US Space Force dedicated to targeting other nations' satellites and their ground stations was activated recently at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado.
The unit is known as the 75th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (ISRS). It is a part of Space Delta 7 - Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, which is responsible for providing intelligence on adversary space capabilities.
The squadron's tasks include analysing potential targets, locating and tracking them, and engaging in actions that may involve disrupting or destroying adversary satellites and their supporting ground stations and transmissions.
“The 75th ISRS conducts advanced analysis on adversary space force and counterspace force threats along with their associated architectures,” said said Lt Col Travis Anderson, the leader of the squadron, according to a US Space Force statement.
Anderson explained the terms "space forces" and "counterspace forces":
“Space forces are space capabilities used by a country to facilitate their joint warfighting.
"Counterspace forces, also called space attack forces, are space capabilities designed to deny the United States the ability to use our satellite systems during conflict.”
According to the 75th ISRS operations superintendent, Master Sgt Desiree Cabrera, the new squadron is the first and only targeting unit dedicated to supporting the US Space Force and its missions.
"Not only are we standing up the sole targeting squadron in the U.S. Space Force, we are changing the way targeting is done across the joint community when it comes to space and electromagnetic warfare," he said.
During the activation ceremony on 11 August, the unit's patch was unveiled. It features a grim reaper with a delta-shaped nose.
The reaper is said to signify the demise of any adversary the squadron would target.
The delta shape symbolises "the historic ties to the early days of the U.S. Air Force space community and represents change and innovation."
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.