REVEALED: NZ’s role in US military plans for space. Here are the key points from my investigation published yesterday by @TheSpinoffTV:
@TheSpinoffTV 1. The NZDF is a regular participant in US space wargames and is a part of a Five Eyes space coalition called the Combined Space Operations — which is directed toward integrating coalition space capabilities into theatre operations.
@TheSpinoffTV 2. While NZ's military does not yet have personnel stationed at the Combined Space Operations Center, it is training up a space cadre of its own so it can do so.
@TheSpinoffTV 3. Last month NZ passed a new milestone in integration with US military space activities, with representatives attending the weekly operational forum of the US Combined Forces Space Command, where coalition space strategy is synchronised.
@TheSpinoffTV 4. NZ’s participation will likely improve the capabilities of the NZDF — but the question is what NZ is expected to provide in return.
@TheSpinoffTV 5. Official documents show that NZ’s contribution to the US space coalition could come from hosting satellite ground stations and from the launch of US military and intelligence payloads from NZ.
@TheSpinoffTV 6. One briefing describes the launch of US payloads from NZ as a “tangible contribution” to the Five Eyes intelligence network.
@TheSpinoffTV 7. Remember: there have been five launches from NZ carrying payloads for US military agencies, although the space agency says these have all been of ‘non-operational’ payloads.
@TheSpinoffTV 8. Remember also that NZ’s space regime centres on a company whose investors include the CIA’s venture capital firm and Lockheed Martin, and which has worked for the US military since 2010. I detailed the history of Rocket Lab’s military work back in 2018: thespinoff.co.nz/business/20-11…
@TheSpinoffTV 9. In May last year I wrote about how military launches were a design feature of NZ’s space regime — despite there being little mention of this when the regime was created. thespinoff.co.nz/business/17-05…
@TheSpinoffTV 10. This is to say nothing about the private spy satellites launched from NZ selling data to US intelligence agencies, as I reported on in August: thespinoff.co.nz/business/01-08…
@TheSpinoffTV 11. Despite all this, there's been virtually no public discussion on NZ’s role in US military plans for space — even though the NZDF’s involvement dates back to at least 2012.
@TheSpinoffTV 12. Full story here: thespinoff.co.nz/members/14-01-…
@TheSpinoffTV Interesting follow up by @weekesy_ in Stuff: NZDF says no plans for separate NZ Space Command but that "there will be necessarily an increase in engagement in the operational fora" as NZDF space capability is developed.
stuff.co.nz/national/polit…
stuff.co.nz/national/polit…
