France Wants Orbital Laser Weapons

Recently, the US and especially Trump have been lambasted for wanting to set up a separate space force. This would be an entirely separate branch of the military on par with the Air Force, Army and Navy, being its own department. There great thumpings of chest and gnashing of teeth how the US would start an arms race in space.

Little have the critics of this noticed that the Chinese have been testing their own space related weapons, ASAT missiles and lasers from the ground. The Russians have been testing their Nudol ASAT as well as their highly suspicious sats that have been rendezvousing with other nations' sats as well. All of these have been happening in a huge way. All of them have been aimed at the US because the US is highly dependent on space to wage the sort of war we do. The Russians and Chinese have been studying our weak links and found one: our satellites.

This is what prompted the current administration into proposing the Space Force. Not vice versa.

And, apparently, another western nation has become alarmed at the Russian and Chinese progress. Enough so that they are seeking to create their own Space Command and procure orbital weapons of their own. The country? France.

First the French are starting with their own space command. A dedicated command intended to observe threats to and, if possible, protect the space assets of the gallic republic. Eventually, so they say, they will go as far as put space on the same footing as air in the same branch, much like the Russians have (the Russians don't have an air force: they have an aerospace force officially).

France is also seeking a laser weapons that can be mounted on their satellites to both defend the satellites from attackers and to attack other satellites. Truthfully, there's little difference between those capabilities. To be sure, they are not going full battlestar galactica just yet. One starts smaller and grows, if possible.

However, it does feel like a watershed moment. If the secondary powers are starting to seek space based weapons...the dam might have finally broke. Time, however, will tell.

IMO, at least.

thoughts?

www.engadget.com...

breakingdefense.com...
www.thedrive.com...

a reply to: anzha



We as humans just love destruction and death, its our worst trait, or is this because of wine tarriff's

Not surprising.

Just like most 3rd(4th) world countries want nukes, why wouldn't they want space lasers.

Re read the OP....France....secondary power???

I'd be more concerned if india or saskethateedesstan was launching "space weopons".

Actually I take it back, india has more global sway than the begel munchers.

In Frances defence I would also like Orbital laser weapons and if I had the money/resources I would probably look into it for myself.
So while I’m not happy France is going down this path it would be hypocritical of me to criticise

originally posted by: IkNOwSTuff
In Frances defence I would also like Orbital laser weapons and if I had the money/resources I would probably look into it for myself.
So while I’m not happy France is going down this path it would be hypocritical of me to criticise

It's logical to think they would want them.

It's pertinent to wonder what 3rd world country would actually control them(and be using france as a proxy for a launch point).

Who needs an alien invasion when we can just kill ourselves from space?

I thought there was some kind of treaty not to weaponize space? I don't know. That must be long gone.

originally posted by: sine.nomine
Who needs an alien invasion when we can just kill ourselves from space?

I thought there was some kind of treaty not to weaponize space? I don't know. That must be long gone.

I think it was a treaty between western nations. Since most of them are gone(sans the US) is it still really an enforcable treaty?

Will their space based system be able to deploy white surrender flags too? Just kiddin. I like France. I spent several days there as a youth. Its probably much different now, with the influx of, well, you know.

originally posted by: visitedbythem
Will their space based system be able to deploy white surrender flags too?

Just kiddin. I like France. I spent several days there as a youth. Its probably much different now, with the influx of, well, you know.

That's pretty racist.....

Assuming france needs french culture to still be france.

originally posted by: MisterSpock

originally posted by: visitedbythem
Will their space based system be able to deploy white surrender flags too?

Just kiddin. I like France. I spent several days there as a youth. Its probably much different now, with the influx of, well, you know.

That's pretty racist.....

Assuming france needs french culture to still be france.

Well, Im sorry. But it was still French people there when I was there.
And don't get me started. We need to work with you on your spelling. What are you doing? Are you out in your shop smoking cigars and drinking

PS anything right of far left is racist these days

originally posted by: visitedbythem

originally posted by: MisterSpock

originally posted by: visitedbythem
Will their space based system be able to deploy white surrender flags too?

Just kiddin. I like France. I spent several days there as a youth. Its probably much different now, with the influx of, well, you know.

That's pretty racist.....

Assuming france needs french culture to still be france.

Well, Im sorry. But it was still French people there when I was there.
And don't get me started. We need to work with you on your spelling. What are you doing? Are you out in your shop smoking cigars and drinking

You know me so well(smoking and drinking).

You really care, you really get me.....wait.....this is a trap...

Who sent you....

What did I spell wrong. Serious question.

a reply to: sine.nomine

The treaty only covers WMDs in orbit.

a reply to: MisterSpock

France is considered a secondary power, yes. Also known as a regional power. They have very limited ability to project power, and a more defensively aligned military.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: sine.nomine

The treaty only covers WMDs in orbit.

Meaning "nukes"...

Nothing about advanced tech weapons like lasers or anything more advanced like tectonic weapons or EMP based weapons.....

If so, that's some real forsight.....

a reply to: MisterSpock

Re read the OP....France....secondary power???

Yup. France is not on the level with either of the first rate military powers: US and China. They're not a superpower and they know it.

Cue the Zeus Cannon!

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: MisterSpock

France is considered a secondary power, yes. Also known as a regional power. They have very limited ability to project power, and a more defensively aligned military.

I love your dry, rigid, description of france.

Sans the current political/social reality.

France would get boot stomped by ANY first world power, and just about 90 percent of "third world" powers. Simply because of their social/political fragility and tepidness.

I guess the only way I'm wrong is due to decades old treaties/assumptions they aren't a bunch of sissy's.

Without that(treaties) i'd put money on just about any country with a large enough supply of jetfuel that could topple france.

originally posted by: MisterSpock
Not surprising.

Just like most 3rd(4th) world countries want nukes, why wouldn't they want space lasers.

Re read the OP....France....secondary power???

I'd be more concerned if india or saskethateedesstan was launching "space weopons".

Actually I take it back, india has more global sway than the begel munchers.

weopons

a reply to: MisterSpock

An EMP would technically fall under WMD. The concern was having missile garages in orbit allowed for first strike capabilities that wouldn't give enough time to strike back. The warheads would be landing before you even recognized they were incoming.

Lasers aren't going to do significant damage, so there's no need to cover them in the treaty.