British military launch a UK Space Command centre

The British Military y has launched its first command centre aimed at protecting the United Kingdom’s interests in space.

Space Command, at RAF High Wycombe, will help the UK maintain a “battle-winning advantage” in this increasingly important domain, the government says.

The UK is spending an additional £1.4bn on space capabilities over the next 10 years.

It comes as a senior UK military commander criticised China and Russia for “reckless” behaviour in space.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the head of the Royal Air Force, told Sky News: “Right now we see countries like Russia and China testing and demonstrating anti-satellite weapons – satellites with all the characteristics of a weapon deployed in space.

“We see them rehearsing, manoeuvring, which frankly have only one purpose which is to destroy satellites, so that is a real concern to us and that’s behaviour that we would want the international community to call out.”

Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: “As our adversaries advance their space capabilities, it is vital we invest in space to ensure we maintain a battle-winning advantage across this fast-evolving operational domain.

“The stand-up of Space Command is an exciting and important step in our commitment to operate in space effectively.”

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