During an address to the 2022 Royal Australian Air Force Air and Space Power Conference on Tuesday, Australian Minister of Defense Peter Dutton announced the creation of the new Defence Space Command.
An excerpt from the speech concerning the new command follows.
Peter Dutton
Minister of Defense
For any nation, losing access to space would have significant civil and military consequences.
Thus all nations have an interest in assuring their access to space.
It is a domain which must be used to deter aggression, rather than become a new realm for conflict.
So friends, to that end, it is my great pleasure today to officially announce the stand-up of Australia’s Defence Space Command.
I want to congratulate the newly appointed head of that command, Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts.
Australia’s Defence Space Command will initially be modest compared to those similar, well-established functions which already exist among some of our allies.
But make no mistake, we are forward looking.
It’s a necessary endeavour with a view to protecting our national interests and our need for a Space Force in the future.
Defence Space Command comprises personnel from our three Services, defence public servants, and industry’s contractors.
It works in close collaboration with the Australian Space Agency, industry partners, and our research and scientific institutions.
Importantly, Defence Space Command is Australia’s contribution towards a larger, collective effort among like-minded countries to ensure a safe, stable and secure space domain.
By developing our sovereign space capabilities, we will not only become more self-reliant, but also be a better ally and partner through the combined effects of our capabilities.
Australia’s aim will be to invest in new military space capabilities to counter threats…
To assure our continued access to space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and to uphold the free use of space.
Guiding the efforts and priorities of Australia’s Defence Space Command is the Defence Space Strategy – which I am pleased to release today.
Importantly, Australia and the United States are strengthening our Alliance to support our mutual objectives in the space domain.
The Australian Department of Defence and the US National Reconnaissance Office have committed to a broad range of cooperative satellite activities which will expand Australia’s space knowledge and capabilities.
Our partnership will also contribute to the US National Reconnaissance Office’s pursuit of a more capable, integrated, and resilient space architecture to support global coverage in a wide range of intelligence mission requirements.
