Pentagon urges missile defence sensors in space

The US must research new technologies, such as a layer of sensors in space, to find and destroy incoming missiles, a Pentagon report says.

The Missile Defence Review says the US should revamp its missile defence programme to combat foreign threats.

It includes plans to study a possible orbital sensor system to intercept and stop missiles in their tracks.

"The world is changing and we're going to change much faster," President Trump said as he unveiled the review.

The president previously ordered the military to create a sixth branch of the military to ensure "American dominance in space".

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Speaking ahead of the review's publication, an unnamed official reportedly said space was "the key" to missile defence.

"A space-based layer of sensors is something we are looking at to help get early warning and tracking and discrimination of missiles when they are launched," the official told reporters.

However, the official stressed the military was only examining whether such a system could work, and that no decisions had been made.

It comes after previously announced plans for more ground-based defence systems in Alaska.