Institutions, space agencies and industry representatives discuss the most urgent challenges across the entire European space ecosystem
The Italian Air Force took part, on the 23rd and 24th of January, in the 16th edition of the “European Space Conference”, an event organised under the auspices of the current Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and which brought together at the Square Brussels Convention Centre the main European space actors at an institutional level, the Member States' Space Agencies and the industries in the sector, with the aim of addressing the most urgent topics and challenges within the entire European space ecosystem.
On the 24th of January, in the session dedicated to the comparison between the main “Space Commanders”– at a European level – in the presence, amongst others, of the Commander of the French Space Command, General Philippe Adam, and of the Commander of the Spanish Space Command, General Crespo Zaragoza – the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force intervened Air Chief Marshal Luca Goretti, who wanted to emphasise, in particular, the importance of ensuring the necessary “umbrella” in terms of security and defence for the carrying out of space activities, including those of a commercial and civil nature.
“Space has always been a highly competitive environment and will be increasingly so in light of the multiplicity of actors and interests revolving around it”, stated the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. “It is fundamental, in this sense, to act promptly and synergistically at a multinational level to keep pace with the challenges and also the threats that can arise from this environment, and so that the capabilities necessary to operate safely in space are developed and acquired, ensuring the defence of infrastructure and, more generally, of national and European interests in the sector”.
The Italian Air Force, through national programmes, bilateral cooperation and participation in industrial and research projects, is fully integrated within the Defence sector and the National System to ensure the maintenance of excellence in the national space and aerospace sector. Through its’General Office for Space, established in September 2017, the Air Force Staff defines and updates the policy and the directives for the development of the Armed Force's space and aerospace capabilities.
