MOSCOW – The Russian military’s announcement comes just two weeks afterremarks by US Air Force top brass that America must prepare to fight andwin wars in outer space, Sputnik has reported.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu emphasized Tuesday that Russia mustdeploy a modern orbital constellation of military satellites to support thearmy and navy.

“Only with support from space will it be possible for the Armed Forcesto reach maximum effectiveness. Therefore, we are paying special attentionto this area,” Shoigu said, speaking in a conference callwith representatives of the rocketry and space industry.

“The Russian president has repeatedly stressed that our army and navy mustnot only meet the requirements of today, but to be prepared for tomorrow’smeans of conducting armed struggle. The solution of this problemdoubtlessly depends directly on the availability of a modern orbitalconstellation of military satellites,” Shoigu added.

According to the defense minister, the subject of his meeting included theproduction of the Pion-NKS, a next-gen radio surveillance satellite, andthe Bars-M, Russia’s newest electro-optical area surveillance satellite.

The defense minister noted that the A.I. Berg Central Science & ResearchInstitute of Radio Engineering and the Progress Rocket Space Center areengaged in the development, manufacture and modernization of Russia’srocket and space technology.

Shoigu’s announcement comes just two weeks after the US Air Force declaredlink>thatit was putting “tremendous emphasis” on preparations for space warfare.Late last month, US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen.

David Goldfein said he believed that America was “going to be fightingfrom space in a matter of years.” Accordingly, the commander said, it was”time for us as a service, regardless of specialty badge, to embrace spacesuperiority with the same passion and sense of ownership as we apply to airsuperiority today.”

Last week, in a speech to lawmakers, Russian President Vladimir Putin showedofflink>aseries of advanced missile weaponry designed to preserve the globalstrategic balance amid Washington’s deployment of components of its missiledefense system along Russia’s western borders and in East Asia.