Australia Set Up Space Division

CANBERRA: The Australian government will establish a Space Division headquarters within the Royal Australian Air Force in early 2022, with personnel from all areas within defence reflecting the importance of the Space domain.

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld said assured access to Space was critical to enabling Defence’s multi-domain operations.

“We use Space daily for understanding the weather, navigating, access to geospatial information and sharing information across Australia or across the world,” Air Marshal Hupfeld said in a statement.

“Defence is delivering capabilities including Space domain awareness, sovereign controlled satellite communications and Space-based Earth observation, and navigation.

“The government has committed to significantly increasing investment in Defence’s Space capabilities by investing around AUD$7 billion ($5.4 billion) this decade to ensure our access to Space, Space services and geospatial information.

“Defence will need capabilities that directly contribute to outcomes in Space as a contested domain, however this does not mean that Defence encourages the militarisation of Space.

“All Space operations are conducted consistent with international and domestic legal obligations.”

As the Defence Space Domain lead, Air Marshal Hupfeld is conducting a Space Domain Review to improve how Space capabilities are managed, acquired and operated.

The Air Force chief also announced the selection of Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts as the Head of the Defence Space Division. –adod/adj/aaa (Image: Australian Department of Defence)