Hegemony of the universe, who holds the grip August 6 11:38

The universe, once talked about in “dreams and romance,” is now transforming into a space where each country can secure its security. The borderless space has become a place where the United States, China and Russia compete for hegemony.
The whereabouts of "new security" in outer space, Japan is also under pressure.
(Yamasu)

The name is "Space Operation Corps"

"We won't be against UFOs."
"I don't intend to put on uniforms like "Science Tokusoutai"." With a
joke-like interaction, Defense Minister Kono announced the establishment of "Space Operation Squadron."

The Space Special Forces "Space Operations Corps" was first established in the Self-Defense Forces on May 18th. Located at the Air Self-Defense Force Fuchu base in Tokyo, only about 20 people are tasked with the task. Nevertheless, Minister Kono expressed his expectation that he wanted to grow small and grow big.

The next month, the government revised the "Space Basic Plan", which shows the basic policy of space policy, for the first time in five years.
In order to utilize it for detecting and tracking missiles, many small satellites were installed in low orbits and cooperation with the United States was included. Prime Minister Abe stressed his intention to strategically cultivate space, saying, "We will also boldly invest in strategic fields for the next era, in anticipation of future space security and economic growth."

In a battle for hegemony where 100 trillion yen flies

Behind the government's commitment to security in space is the fact that each country is increasing its participation in space development against the backdrop of the rapid expansion of the space industry.

According to a calculation by a major US financial institution, the size of the global space industry is over 355 billion dollars = 38 trillion yen in Japanese yen as of 2019, but it is 2.5 times as much as 1 trillion dollars = 107 trillion yen in the 2040s. We expect to exceed even more.

The Japanese Government's "Space Basic Plan" stipulates that the size of the domestic space industry will be doubled from the current 1.2 trillion yen in the early 2030s.

As the industry expands, the number of countries entering the market is also increasing.
In space, the United States and Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) once led the world, and it was called the “bipolar structure”, but now, in addition to Europe and Japan, emerging countries such as China and India have also emerged, and like the ground. We are entering the age of "multipolarization."

Yasuhito Fukushima, senior researcher at the National Defense Research Institute, which specializes in space security, points out that the current state of space is accelerating security competition.
"Considering services using GPS, meteorological satellites, and communication satellites, it has become quite commonplace. Without the use of space, both military and civilian activities are not possible."

"On the other hand, during the Cold War, various nations, including China, began to possess weapons that only the United States and the Soviet Union had and that interfered with space utilization, and some of them have actually been used. Although it is indispensable to any country, it is difficult to use it stably, so attention is paid to the universe from the perspective of security.

“Understanding global location information” Rise of China

China has emerged in outer space. Japan is increasingly wary of this trend.

Kono said this April about the capabilities of China at the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Regarding the ability to attack satellites, it has been pointed out that in addition to missiles or killer satellites that directly attack satellites, they are developing jamming devices and laser weapons. It shows that it has strengthened its ability to interfere with space use of

China .” China has a history of attacking satellites from the ground more than a decade ago. In 2007, a medium-range ballistic missile launched from the ground, which was located in outer space at an altitude of 865 km, and destroyed an old weather satellite in Japan called "experiment". As many as 3000 pieces of space debris called "debris" were generated.

Even after that, although it was not actually destroyed, missile launch experiments were repeated, and there is a view that most of the satellites operated by each country are now within its range.

China has repeatedly launched satellites and spacecraft, and exceeded the United States in the number of launches for the first time in 2018.

In June, we succeeded in launching the last one of our own location information system "Hokuto", which is also called "China version GPS", and succeeded in launching it. Has announced.

The former China Self-Defense Force officer, who also has resided in China, is a senior researcher at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Dr. Bunji Ohara, who points out that the "Chinese version of GPS" has a strong awareness of the United States in terms of security.
"The primary purpose of the Earth Observation Satellite Network is to accurately locate the US fleets and aircraft carriers as they travel toward the China in the Pacific Ocean."

"To shoot a missile from mainland China and hit it on an American ship, we must always know the position of the American ship and tell the missile. Now, how many bullets are collected at the same point at the same time? It depends on whether or not you will win or lose, so in order to do that, you need to know exactly where your opponents and themselves are on the satellite network.''

U.S. alertness that "Space Force" was established

The United States, which is said to be the "world's largest space power," is not holding back the efforts of China.

"America has regained fame as a world leader. Second in space cannot be first in Earth."

The United States successfully launched a manned spacecraft for the first time in nine years this past May, and President Trump emphasized that the United States will remain the top leader in space.

Not only in industry, but also in capacity building for security.

Last January, we announced a new missile defense strategy. He announced his intention to develop a system capable of intercepting missiles from space in order to counter China and Russia, which are rapidly increasing missile technology.

Furthermore, in December last year, since the Air Force in 1947, the Space Force was established as the first army to be established in 72 years with 16,000 personnel.

President Trump flaunted the power, saying that "no country can compete with the United States."

Conflicts between the United States and China have intensified in a variety of fields, beginning with trade issues, the international order that was affected by the spread of the new coronavirus, the “Hong Kong problem”, and freedom of sea navigation.

Fukushima's chief researcher points out that the battle for leadership will be heated in space.
"Undoubtedly, the United States and China will lead the world's future space activities. Until now, the United States has been promoting the operation of the International Space Station as the international leader, but on the other hand, China also With the aim of becoming the center of international cooperation in Japan, we are thinking of providing services to the countries concerned by using new space stations etc."

"Each of the United States and China is starting to become hubs of space activity."

Between the great power of Japan,

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's “Space Operations Corps” was launched while these allies, the United States, and neighboring countries, China, were fighting for leadership.

First, the corresponding task is to monitor debris = space debris, called SSA = space condition monitoring. Even if you say "garbage," its power is enormous. Collision speed is 10 times faster than a rifle bullet. Approximately 23,000 debris have been confirmed in debris with a diameter of 10 cm or more, which could destroy the satellite catastrophically.

Once these debris occur, they continue to orbit the earth for a long time until they re-enter the atmosphere and burn up.

Actually, the Air Self-Defense Force does not yet have any equipment that can be monitored by itself. We are currently preparing for the acquisition of two “eyes”.

One of them is the "Deep Space Radar" established in Sanyo-Onoda City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is a ground-based radar for monitoring artificial satellites in a geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers away from the ground, aiming for full-scale operation in 2023.

On the geostationary orbit, there is an "X-band defense communication satellite" used by the Ministry of Defense to communicate with long-distance troops. However, if there is a danger such as the approach of debris, move the satellite as necessary to protect it. Is the role.

Around 2026, we plan to launch a satellite equipped with a telescope called "space-based optical telescope" in order to gain a better understanding of debris and satellite characteristics near the "X-band defense communication satellite". ing.

The Ministry of Defense is deepening cooperation to acquire space monitoring capability by dispatching personnel to the JAXA = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which is already monitoring debris and satellites, as well as the United States and the United Kingdom. By participating in joint exercises, we are rushing to build a posture for multilateral cooperation in space.

Is it possible to "rule" in space

Another thing that the government is trying to do is to make international rules in space, in addition to monitoring the space situation.

As for the international rules that regulate activities in outer space, five related treaties were created by the 1980s, including the space treaty ratified by 110 countries including Japan.

However, except for the placement of weapons of mass destruction, the use of weapons in outer space is not regulated, and there are no legal provisions that regulate the destruction of satellites or the generation of debris.

Furthermore, attacking methods that are not limited to outer space, such as jamming = obstruction of communication that connects the universe and the ground and cyber attacks on ground facilities that command satellites, have been pointed out, and there is a voice that an international rule should be created. It is coming up from each country.

In fact, the U.S. space forces have criticized Russia for launching an object from an artificial satellite in the orbit of the Earth on the 15th of last month to carry out an experiment to attack the satellite, threatening the United States and its allies. It is becoming more vigilant when the number is increasing.

Under these circumstances, the Japanese government stipulated in the "Basic Plan for Space" that it would play an active role in bringing a certain order to outer space. However, if rules are created, it will also limit the movements of each country in space development, and Japan will need difficult steering among the United States and other countries.

Fukushima Senior Researcher analyzes the current situation as follows.
"China and Russia are enthusiastically promoting the creation of an arms control treaty in space, but the background is the idea that "we want to restrain military military space activities by the United States." Japan wants to curb China's satellite destruction experiments. It is difficult to develop rules on security and armament management without political confidence building."

"It is difficult to break through the front of arms control, and we have to think about "how to indirectly control." For example, at the United Nations Commission on Space and Peace Use, which makes rules for non-military space activities, It played a central role in the creation of guidelines."
"Considering the sustainability of space activities in such places, of course, activities that generate a lot of space debris are not desirable, and satellite destruction is against it. Japan can build a common understanding by exchanging opinions with other countries.”

Senior Researcher Ohara says the path Japan should take.
“Japan is one of the world's leading rocket launchers, and being able to launch their own satellites using their own rockets is a great advantage. Japan does not have to rely on satellites from other countries I can say things to America and China because I can have them.''

"What Japan has to deal with is "changing the status quo using its ability," and speaking in space, "satellite destruction is ridiculous, and violent acts cannot be accepted by Japan." Is neither good for the United States nor for China. It is difficult for Japan to lead alone, but in terms of "destructive opposition to destruction by military means", European countries and Australia have gained approval, I think we can have partial influence.”

How will Japan ensure the safety of the universe and how will it be involved?
As the security environment changes drastically, it may be necessary to take measures with a long-term perspective. I think so.

(*Images from the US Air Force HP and the Chinese government promotional video are also used for the top image.)

Political Department reporter
Satoshi Yamamasu
Joined the company in 2009. From Aomori station to the political department. In charge of the Ministry of Defense through the Ministry of Education and the opposition parties. Recently, I am studying the operation of a small drone.