Russia’s ‘Star Wars’ weapon might “cripple” the UK’s methods, MPs have warned as they name on the defence secretary to set out a method to counter it.
Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the Commons defence committee, warned in opposition to the “weaponisation of house”.
He warned that permitting Russia to develop weapons in house might depart the GPS system open to assault.
“Every aspect of our lives is reliant on GPS. Payment systems, agriculture, machinery, modern industries and defence,” the Conservative MP stated, including: “The loss of GPS would cripple navigation”.
It comes after Britain and America accused Russia of launching a projectile “with the traits of a weapon” which might pose a menace to western satellites.
Mr Ellwood will write to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace asking him to “recognise this development must be front and centre of the integrated review”.
In February the federal government stated the Built-in evaluation of Safety, Defence, Growth and International Coverage will take a look at “long-term strategic aims for our national security and foreign policy.”
Bob Seely, the Tory MP who sits on the Commons International Affairs committee, stated: “Everything nowadays, including defence, runs on communications systems. So much of that goes through satellites. If people can destroy your satellites, then you’re back in the Middle Ages.”
Mr Seely known as for a “significant strategic readjustment” for the UK’s method to Russia and China.
The defence committee will increase Russia’s actions in house with Alex Ellis, deputy nationwide safety advisor, at a listening to on Tuesday.
Mr Ellwood can also be calling for the built-in evaluation, which is predicted to be completed earlier than the brand new yr, to be delivered quicker.
He stated: “We cannot continue to have tactical decisions made like merging the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office or responding to individual reactions with China, like with Hong Kong – without a foreign policy reset.”
Air Vice Marshal Harvey Smyth, director of house on the Ministry of Defence, stated in a press release that the UK was “involved by the style by which Russia examined one in every of its satellites by launching a projectile with the traits of a weapon”.
