Russia vetos US-Japan resolution against nukes in space, ‘unprecedented escalation’ in UN fight

Russia vetos US-Japan resolution against nukes in space, ‘unprecedented escalation’ in UN fight
Russia vetos US-Japan resolution against nukes in space, ‘unprecedented escalation’ in UN fight

“Although Russia would not be expected to vote for a resolution aimed at its own conduct, its response that it is ‘against’ putting nuclear weapons in space is just vague enough to not quite be reassuring,” said Jessica West of Canada’s Project Ploughshares.

US joins Austria, Bahrain, Canada, & Portugal to co-lead global push for safer military AI

US joins Austria, Bahrain, Canada, & Portugal to co-lead global push for safer military AI
US joins Austria, Bahrain, Canada, & Portugal to co-lead global push for safer military AI

Two US officials exclusively tell Breaking Defense the details of new international “working groups” that are the next step in Washington’s campaign for ethical and safety standards for military AI and automation – without prohibiting their use entirely.

For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review

For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review
For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review

The Space Force has made some visible progress in its “pivot” towards resiliency, but acquisition reform remains a hard slog.

Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review

Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review
Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review

Over the last 11 months, the US has made major progress in defining “Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence” and even getting other nations to sign on the idea — without ever actually precluding the kind of automated “killer robots” activists want to ban.

Biden launches AI ‘risk and safety’ talks with China. Is nuclear C2 a likely focus?

Biden launches AI ‘risk and safety’ talks with China. Is nuclear C2 a likely focus?
Biden launches AI ‘risk and safety’ talks with China. Is nuclear C2 a likely focus?

Details are scant for now, but experts tell Breaking Defense that any AI agreement between China and the US could involve a pledge not to use AI in nuclear systems.

UN takes ‘parallel’ paths on space security amid geopolitical rift

UN takes ‘parallel’ paths on space security amid geopolitical rift
UN takes ‘parallel’ paths on space security amid geopolitical rift

One new working group, led by the UK and US, will focus on norms; the other, led by Russia and China, will draft legal treaty.

With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails

With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails
With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails

“More than 100 lunar missions are planned for this decade alone, including many that are commercial,” said Jessica West, of Canada’s Project Ploughshares.

EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms

EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms
EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms

The EU move, which comes in the run up to the final meeting of the UN working group to prevent space threats at the end of the month, brings the number of countries supporting the limited ASAT testing ban up to 35.

At UN meeting, space cooperation picks up momentum, but Moscow and Beijing play spoilers

At UN meeting, space cooperation picks up momentum, but Moscow and Beijing play spoilers
At UN meeting, space cooperation picks up momentum, but Moscow and Beijing play spoilers

American initiatives are seeing more support, while rivals used the opportunity to raise a litany of complaints against Washington.

At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview

At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview
At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview

There are a host of open questions bedeviling national and international policy- and law-makers as they struggle to get a better grip on both the explosion of commercial players with innovative ideas for space utilization and the growing military interest in space as a tool of, and venue for, war.

Space strategies, ops and tech go into hyperdrive: 5 stories from 2022

Space strategies, ops and tech go into hyperdrive: 5 stories from 2022
Space strategies, ops and tech go into hyperdrive: 5 stories from 2022

From solar power in space to the evolving roll of commercial satellites, 2022 saw more activity, and more controversy, in the heavens.

US call for halting kinetic anti-satellite tests gets boost from UN vote

US call for halting kinetic anti-satellite tests gets boost from UN vote
US call for halting kinetic anti-satellite tests gets boost from UN vote

France just last week became the ninth nation to publicly join the moratorium — following Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, and Australia.

UN committee endorses US call for moratorium on destructive ASAT missile tests

UN committee endorses US call for moratorium on destructive ASAT missile tests
UN committee endorses US call for moratorium on destructive ASAT missile tests

“There are ongoing reviews to find other other commitments that we can make, specifically around national security space activities,” said the State Department’s Richard Buenneke.

EXCLUSIVE: US Strategic Space Review signed out, but no unclassified version is coming

EXCLUSIVE: US Strategic Space Review signed out, but no unclassified version is coming
EXCLUSIVE: US Strategic Space Review signed out, but no unclassified version is coming

“If we want deterrence to be effective, it takes three things: 1. Capabilities 2. Credible threats in the mind of the adversary and 3. The will to communicate the first two,” Chris Stone, Mitchell Institute fellow, told Breaking Defense.