Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks on the New U.S. Commitment Not to Conduct Destructive Direct-Ascent Anti-Satellite Missile Testing at Vandenberg Space Force Base (As Prepared)

… <p>Everyone in this audience has surely used the Global Positioning System, or GPS.&nbsp; It is a free service- provided to the entire globe &ndash; by the U.S. military.&nbsp; Another example: Department of Defense missile warning satellites, which detect infrared heat signatures, are also used to help crews on the ground battle wildfires</p> <p>Today, however, our use of space is under threat.</p> <p>China and Russia continue to develop, test, and proliferate sophisticated anti-satellite weapons to hold U.S. and allied space assets at risk; assets that help preserve safety and stability for countries around the globe.</p> <p>For example, Russia conducted a November 2021 anti-satellite missile test, which created over 1,500 pieces of trackable debris.&nbsp; The Russians then followed up with a direct threat to the GPS system that is relied upon by nations worldwide for multiple purposes.</p> <p>To ensure our ability to operate in space &ndash;the President&rsquo;s Fiscal year 2023 budget request looks to invest $27.6 billion dollars in the Defense Department&rsquo;s space capabilities and resilient architectures.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>It funds two more GPS satellites and invests in the development of secure, survivable satellite communications. And it funds the Defense Department&rsquo;s transition to a new, resilient missile warning and missile tracking architecture.&nbsp;</p> …