JAPAN has become the latest world power to launch its own space force amid fears Russia and China are plotting to dominate Earth’s orbit.

The £300m Space Domain Mission Unit will safeguard the country’s interstellar assets such as satellites which if attacked could cripple its military and economy.

3 Russia has developed a plane-mounted laser which can destroy enemy satellites in space

3 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced today that Japan will form a space defence unit to protect itself from potential threats as rivals develop missiles and other technology Credit: AP:Associated Press

The Japanese space force will work closely with its American counterpart which was recently launched by President Donald Trump who declared space was “the world's new war-fighting domain".

The US has launched its space force to ensure America's dominance in space amid heightened competition and threats from China and Russia.

But faced with the same threats as the US, Japan has now formed its own army of space warriors to safeguard itself against attack from those nations.

The Space Domain Mission Unit will start in April as part of Japan's Air Self-Defence Force. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan must be able to defend itself from threats against Japanese satellites.

He said: "We will drastically bolster capability and system in order to secure superiority."

The space unit will be added to an existing air base at Fuchu in the western suburbs of Tokyo, where about 20 people will be staffed ahead of a full launch in 2022.

The role of the space unit is to conduct satellite-based navigation and communications for other troops in the field, rather than being on the ground.

Meanwhile the US is powering ahead with its space force and has even unveiled its own uniform.

MOST READ IN NEWS BACK ON HIS FEET Alexei Navalny walks down stairs in Instagram snap after Novichok attack SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Chinese clubbers dance in Wuhan as Covid ground zero has 'NO cases' SCHUEY BLOW Michael Schumacher in a 'vegetative state and not responding to his family' MEDICANE IANOS Two dead and buildings collapse as 'Mediterranean hurricane' batters Greece CLASH OF THE TITANS Killer whales 'ripping open' great whites to eat hearts and TESTICLES FLASHPOINT US Army sends reinforcements to Syria after growing threat from ISIS and Russia

On Saturday the United States Space Force (USSF) official Twitter account, a photo was shared featuring the new US Space Force uniforms complete name tapes, embroidered in blue.

But the camouflage design had puzzled many people on social media because space has no foliage to blend in with.

Responding to this, the USFF said explained: "USSF is utilising current Army/Air Force uniforms, saving costs of designing/producing a new one.

"Members will look like their joint counterparts they’ll be working with, on the ground."

Despite the force defending the uniform, many social media users took to Twitter to express their confusion.

One man tweeted: "I know this is hard to understand, but on the left there is a picture of camouflage and on the right there is a picture of space. Study these carefully until you can see the difference."

The tweet was accompanied with a picture of a basic camouflage patter next to a photo of the color black, signifying the darkness in space.

3 Trump has said space is a battle arena, just like air, land and sea Credit: Getty Images - Getty