Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu emphasized Tuesday that Russia must deploy a modern orbital constellation of military satellites to support the army and navy.
"Only with support from space will it be possible for the Armed Forces to reach maximum effectiveness. Therefore, we are paying special attention to this area," Shoigu said, speaking in a conference call with representatives of the rocketry and space industry.
"The Russian president has repeatedly stressed that our army and navy must not only meet the requirements of today, but to be prepared for tomorrow's means of conducting armed struggle. The solution of this problem doubtlessly depends directly on the availability of a modern orbital constellation of military satellites," Shoigu added.
Shoigu's announcement comes just two weeks after the US Air Force declared that it was putting "tremendous emphasis" on preparations for space warfare. Late last month, US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said he believed that America was "going to be fighting from space in a matter of years." Accordingly, the commander said, it was "time for us as a service, regardless of specialty badge, to embrace space superiority with the same passion and sense of ownership as we apply to air superiority today."
Last week, in a speech to lawmakers, Russian President Vladimir Putin showed off a series of advanced missile weaponry designed to preserve the global strategic balance amid Washington's deployment of components of its missile defense system along Russia's western borders and in East Asia.