As an increasingly ambitious China and Russia develop stronger weapons capabilities including hypersonic missiles that can hit a target on the other side of the planet after briefly exiting earth's atmosphere, it's not surprise that more western governments are reexamining their capabilities - both offensive and defensive - along humanity's "final frontier" - space.
In in a new report published by Britain's Ministry of Defense this week, authorities warn that aggressors could potentially develop capabilities to launch an "exo-atmospheric nuclear strike" that could result in a civilization-ending - or "permanent kill" to use their terms - scenario.
The report goes so far as to claim that a government's ability to preserve the qualities of "daily life" for its citizens will in the future be dependent on control of space - a battle in which Britan's "adversaries" are rapidly gaining advantage.
"Daily life is reliant on space and, for the Armed Forces, space underpins vital, battle-winning technologies. From space we can deliver global command & control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision navigation, and more. Adversaries understand this reliance and are increasingly able to exploit vulnerabilities, threatening our strategic stability and security."
The only means of protecting against such a ghastly eventuality long term will require close cooperation with Britain's allies to establish dominance throughout Earth's orbit, and beyond.
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