Russia's Ministry of Defense on April 1 established the Aerospace Monitoring Forces (AMF) tasked with providing security to spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS) and enforcing international rules of space conduct.

The military corps, dubbed the Space Patrol by the Russian media, will carry out joint missions in cooperation with similar forces under development in other countries across the globe, including the United States, China and Germany.

The United Nations welcomed Russia's initiative, adding it could lead to a binding international agreement.

The AMF will use an extensive network of satellites and ground stations to track those, who break international law, especially space traffic regulations. The agency will also carry out three month space missions to the International Space Station and fly daily orbital patrols.

Russia's space patrol will use refurbished Soyuz spacecraft to conduct observation flights, chase abusers of the international space law and even collect space junk, experts at Russia's Space Research and Intergalactic Standards Center told Sputnik.

Russia's Ministry of Defense also plans deep-space missions to provide security to the distant regions of outer space, often used for lucrative illegal activity, including alien weapons and drug trafficking, as well as money laundering.

Source: Sputnik News