Publication date: Jul 13, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 3 min read A Canadian Space Operations Center brochure photo. The Canadian Forces will create a new team to focus on the growing importance of space to military operations and the country’s security. Photo by Canadian Forces /Handout
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The Canadian Forces will create a new team to focus on the growing importance of space to military operations and the country’s security.
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The idea of establishing a Canadian Space Division has been floating around National Defense headquarters in Ottawa since 2019, but is now expected to be in place by September. “3 Canadian Space Directorates are expected to be established in the coming weeks,” Major Jill Lawrence, public relations officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s director general for space, confirmed Wednesday. “We look forward to this very important milestone in the further development of the RCAF’s capabilities and skills for space operations.” Royal Canadian Air Force Brigade. Gen. Michael Adamson, director general for space, said earlier this year that Canada was considering following its allies that had created similar organizations.
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Australia earlier this year announced it was creating a defense space command, but no details were available on the size of the agency. As US president, Donald Trump ordered the creation of the United States Space Force in 2019 with more than 8,000 personnel. In April 2021, Britain took over the Space Command to coordinate space operations and the procurement of space systems. It has approximately 400 staff. Canada’s portion will be much smaller. Adamson told US publication Space News earlier this year there were about 180 people working on space-related defense issues. “We hope to grow the operation across the Canadian Forces up to 270,” he said. The total number will include civilian Department of Defense personnel and military personnel working on space-related tasks at operations centers. “It makes sense for us to look at setting up a Canadian Space Department that essentially creates these forces that can then be used operationally for the army, air force, navy and SOF (special operations forces),” Adamson said. .
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The division will be responsible to the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force for building space capabilities for various missions. The RCAF is responsible for the defense and protection of military space capabilities and the development of space capabilities for the Canadian Forces. Procurement of space systems will continue to be done by various organizations in the RCAF, National Defense and Public Services and Procurement Canada. Space-based systems hold an important place in the lives of the Canadian public, who rely on such equipment for everything from banking to daily weather reports. In the military realm, Canadian soldiers routinely use space vehicles to operate effectively on the battlefield. Such systems do everything from enabling long-range communications to guiding weapons to their targets. The Department of National Defense uses space systems to monitor the nation’s maritime approaches and conduct surveillance at locations around the world.
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Adamson has made a point of educating senior Canadian military commanders not only about the importance of space, but also about potential threats to the space capabilities they need. The National Defense has plans to spend billions of dollars on space systems in the coming years. It is considering a future replacement system for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, a satellite system that provides surveillance information from around the world. In addition, the military wants to install a new satellite system that will enable communications in the Arctic. The initial operational capability for this was set for 2029, but has since been pushed back to 2032. Other nations have also expressed interest in this polar communications project, which is expected to cost billions of dollars. These countries include New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, France, the UK and the US Space-based systems are also expected to play a key role in the upcoming modernization of the joint Canada-US North American Aerospace Defense Command.
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title: “Military Plans To Create Canadian Space Division In Coming Weeks " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “Sarah Clemente”
Publishing date: Jul 13, 2022 • 5 hours ago • 3 minute read A handout photo of the Canadian Space Operations Centre. The Canadian Forces will create a new group to focus on the growing importance of space to military operations and the country’s security. Photo by Canadian Forces /Handout
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The Canadian Forces will create a new group to focus on the growing importance of space to military operations and the country’s security.
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The idea of establishing a Canadian Space Division has been circulating at National Defence headquarters in Ottawa since 2019, but it is now expected to be in place by September. “3 Canadian Space Division is expected to be stood-up in the coming weeks,” Maj. Jill Lawrence, a public affairs officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s director general of space, confirmed Wednesday. “We are looking forward to this very important milestone in the further development of the RCAF’s capabilities and skills for space operations.” Royal Canadian Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Adamson, director general for space, said earlier this year that Canada was looking at following its allies who had created similar organizations.
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Australia earlier this year announced it was creating a defence space command, but no details were available on the size of the organization. As U.S. president, Donald Trump ordered the creation of the United States Space Force in 2019 with more than 8,000 personnel. In April 2021, Britain stood up its Space Command to coordinate space operations and procurement of space systems. It has around 400 staff. Canada’s division will be much smaller. Adamson told the U.S. publication, Space News, earlier this year there were around 180 personnel working on space-related defence issues. “We’re hoping to grow the enterprise across the entire Canadian Forces up to 270,” he said. The overall figure will include Department of National Defence civilian personnel and military staff working on space-related tasks in operations centres. “It makes logical sense for us to look at standing up a Canadian Space Division that basically generates those forces that will then be able to be employed in operations for army, air force, navy and SOF (special operations forces),” Adamson said.
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The division would be responsible to the Royal Canadian Air Force commander for the generation of space capabilities for various missions. The RCAF is responsible for defending and protecting military space capabilities and developing space-based capabilities for the Canadian Forces. Procurement of space systems will still be handled by various organizations in the RCAF, National Defence and Public Services and Procurement Canada. Space-based systems have a significant place in the lives of the Canadian public, which relies on such equipment for everything from banking transactions to daily weather reports. In the military realm, Canadian soldiers regularly use space-based assets to operate effectively on the battlefield. Such systems do everything from allowing long-range communications to guiding weapons to their targets. The Department of National Defence uses space systems to monitor the maritime approaches of the nation and conduct surveillance on locations around the world.
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Adamson has pointed out that he has been educating senior Canadian military commanders not only about the importance of space, but also the potential threats to the space-based capabilities they need. National Defence has plans to spend billions of dollars on space systems in the coming years. It is looking at a future replacement system for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, a satellite system that provides surveillance information from around the globe. In addition, the military wants to put in place a new satellite system allowing for communications in the Arctic. Initial operating capability for that was set for 2029, but that has since been moved to 2032. Other nations have also expressed interest in that polar communications project, which is expected to cost billions of dollars. Those countries include New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, France, the United Kingdom and the U.S. Space-based systems are also expected to play a key role in the upcoming modernization of the joint Canada-U.S. North American Aerospace Defence Command.
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