BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, England –
The commander U.S. Space Command, U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, has held his first visit to the headquarters of U.K. Space Command at Royal Air Force High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.
The visit was hosted by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the RAF Deputy Commander Operations; Air Marshal Gerry Mayhew, the UK Director Space; Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth; and Dickinson’s counterpart in the U.K., Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, the inaugural commander UK Space Command.
“I am pleased to be here in the U.K., meeting with my British counterparts," Dickinson said. "Our allies and partners are the greatest advantage we have, and the U.K. remains one of our closest allies in all domains. Building strong alliances with like-minded partners such as the U.K. is a core part of our strategy to preserve free and open access to the benefits of space that has enabled all of us to prosper.”
Dickinson was joined by several representatives from the U.S. Armed Forces, including, Air Force Col. Charles Metrolis, the U.S. Air Attaché to the U.K. As well as meeting RAF and U.K. Space Command personnel, they visited the U.K. Space Operations Centre and the National Air and Space Operations Centre.
Throughout the visit, participants were able to hold in-depth discussions on U.K.-U.S. space operations, and the many space programmes that the U.K. and U.S. cooperate in, such as the Combined Space Operations Initiative, Operation Olympic Defender and the NATO Space Centre.
“Being able to host General Dickinson today at the new UK Space Command provided the opportunity to discuss a great many things face to face," Godfrey said. "The global future is uncertain but both the U.K. and U.S. are aligned on their desire to ensure space is safe for all to use.”
U.K. Space Command was officially formed on April 1 and initially located at RAF High Wycombe alongside RAF Air Command. It is a Joint Command staffed from the Royal Navy, British Army, RAF and the Civil Service, as well as working alongside the Ministry of Defence Space Directorate. Together they aim to build on existing RAF space structures and deliver joint national space capability, policy, strategy and cross-government and international coordination.
USSPACECOM protects and defends U.S. interests in space, with a domain starting from about 60 miles above the surface of the earth upwards. The command's mission focuses on four specific areas: deter aggression; defeat the nation's enemies through posture and preparedness; deliver space combat power; and defend U.S., allied and partner interests.