Russia and China to be tracked from space under Germany-Australia deal
Head of the German government Boris Pistorius (Photo: Getty Images)
Australia and Germany have signed a letter of intent to develop cooperation that will significantly enhance monitoring of the actions of third countries in space, reports ABC.
Australia and Germany have signed a letter of intent to develop cooperation that will significantly enhance the monitoring of third-country activities in space.
At a joint press conference, representatives of the two countries highlighted the threat posed by the growing offensive capabilities of China and Russia in space - including jamming, blinding, and satellite destruction.
In response, they announced their intention to create an independent global network of sensors and detectors - what could be described as an early warning system - to protect their own space assets.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius noted in this context that China and Russia are direct neighbors, underscoring the importance of developing an independent monitoring system.
The press conference took place during the first visit by a German defense minister to Australia in eight years, highlighting the deepening of bilateral relations.
In addition to space surveillance, the two sides also discussed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and defense industry cooperation.
In February, Russian space satellites successfully intercepted communications over Europe, thereby gaining access to classified data.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said last fall that Chinese satellites have been observed over Ukraine on multiple occasions, and their purpose is to monitor critical facilities in the context of Russian aggression.
