A new space force could be created in the US to fight the extraterrestrial wars of the future, President Donald Trump has claimed.

Legislators and military experts have envisioned a possibility of war in space for at least the past several decades.

Until recently, that issue has been cast aside as other more pressing matters - including war and terrorism - have taken centre stage.

Now, addressing the prospect of an armed encounter above the Earth appears to be an increasing priority for the world's super powers.

Russia and China are already claimed to be developing armaments that can strike in space, including missiles that can target satellites.

Trump's comments suggest America is prioritising its own offensive and defensive capabilities, to ensure its supremacy in the theatre of space conflict.

Previously revealed US space weapons include the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle and hypersonic missiles under development that could be used to strike objects in orbit.

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A new space force could be created in the US to fight the extraterrestrial wars of the future, President Donald Trump has claimed. His comments suggest addressing the prospect of an armed encounter in space is an increasing priority for the world's super powers

President Trump made the comments while presenting the annual Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the US Army's Black Knights football team at the White House.

During his speech, the Trump said that his administration is 'seriously thinking' about creating a space force as part of his efforts to build up the nation's military.

Trump listed the 'five proud branches of the United States Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and the Coast Guard'.

According to reports in The Times, he paused for a moment before adding: 'And we're actually thinking of a sixth, and that would be the Space Force. Does that make sense?

'Because we're getting very big in space, both militarily and for other reasons. And we are seriously thinking of the Space Force.'

This is not the first time that Trump has raised the prospect of a new Space Force, telling a crowd of Marines in March he may want to start one.

Previously revealed US space weapons include the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. This image shows The Air Force working on the reusable spacecraft after it landed at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2017

The US Air Force's unmanned X-37B space plane has flown a number of secret missions to date. Each time it has carried a mystery payload on long-duration flights in Earth orbit. Staff are seen testing the Air Force's first unmanned re-entry spacecraft in 2010

WHAT IS THE MYSTERIOUS X-37B ORBITAL TEST VEHICLE? The US Air Force's unmanned X-37B space plane has flown a number of secret missions to date. Each time it has carried a mystery payload on long-duration flights in Earth orbit. The spacecraft looks similar to Nasa's space shuttle but is much smaller. The X-37B is about 29ft (8.8m) long and 9.5ft (2.9 m) tall. Like a shuttle, X-37B is blasted into orbit by a rocket. However, it lands using a runway like a normal aircraft. The X-37B is too small to carry people onboard, but does have a cargo bay similar to that of a pickup truck, which is just large enough to carry a small satellite It has a wingspan of just less than 15ft (4.6 m). At launch, it weighs 11,000lbs (4,990kg). The craft is taken into orbit on a rocket but lands like the space shuttle by gliding down to Earth. Its main mission payload is a mystery, although Nasa has revealed it has a hauled a number of materials experiments aboard into space. Advertisement

Positioned in front of a Marine F/A-18 Hornet, Trump called space a 'war-fighting domain', and talked up both its military importance and the merits of private ventures.

'Space is a war-fighting domain just like the land, air, and sea,' he said on March 23, as he spoke to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, nicknamed the Red Devils, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

'We may even have a Space Force, develop another one – Space Force,' Trump added. 'We have the Air Force, you'll have the Space Force.'

In April, a new report outlined concerns that a space war may be approaching faster than many anticipated and that world leaders are woefully unprepared.

Other potential space weapons include hypersonic missiles under development in the US, Russia and China that could be used to strike objects in orbit. This artist's impression shows Boeing's hypersonic X-51A Waverider cruise missile currently under development

WHAT ARE HYPERSONIC MISSILES AND HOW DO THEY WORK? Aircraft and missiles are said to be hypersonic once they exceed speeds of Mach 5 and above, or five times the speed of sound. This occurs at 1,715 metres per second (3,836mph / 6,174kmh). The latest class of hypersonic missiles would be smaller, guided and designed to carry conventional explosives for time-sensitive, rapid response in theatre operations. There are two kinds of approaches to solving the hypersonic challenge in missiles: 'scramjet' and 'boost glide.' The air-breathing scramjet relies on high speed for its power. As it accelerates, more air and fuel is pushed into the engine, allowing it to accelerate even more - to hypersonic speeds. The boost glide model rides a reentry vehicle to extremely high altitudes, where it skips across the Earth's upper atmosphere. Traditional ballistic missiles already travel at hypersonic speeds. Built to carry nuclear and conventional warheads, these weapons are capable of reaching outer space in the course of their flights, but they can't manoeuvre. Advertisement

The US Department of Defense warned that the US isn't ready for a space war, while Russia and China have developed technologies that could destroy satellites that are crucial for many everyday tasks, ranging from ATMs to apps like Uber Eats.

The satellites are also used for reconnaissance and guiding precision bombs, missiles and drones.

'We are now approaching a point where "Star Wars" is not just a movie,' Steve Isakowitz, CEO of think tank Aerospace Corp, told Politico at the time.

The Pentagon has already set aside billions to 'harden' its defences against anti-satellite weapons and training troops to survive in space.

Congress also floated the idea last year of a new 'Space Corps', set to be modelled after the Marines.

It would be tasked with keeping the US ahead of its superpower rivals in the event of a war.

Russia and China are already claimed to be developing armaments that can strike in space, including missiles that can target satellites

If a US satellite is blown up by enemies in a war in space, it can create thousands of piece of dangerous space that can float around forever (artists' impression)

The idea of creating the first new branch to the US military in 70 years encountered significant resistance, however, and was scrapped in December 2017.

Alleged restriction of funds to the other armed forces squashed the idea.

US Air Force chief, General David Goldfein, has also claimed space warfare is a real possibility 'within a matter of years'.

The US will need new tools, specialist training and billions of dollars in funding to prepare for combat in orbit, he has said.

General Goldfein made the comments while speaking at the Air Force Association's 34th annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition in Orlando in February.

'[It's] time for us as a service, regardless of speciality badge, to embrace space superiority with the same passion and sense of ownership as we apply to air superiority today,' General Goldfein said at the time.

General Goldfein argues that the US Air Force is best placed to protect American interests in space.

He added: 'I believe we're going to be fighting from space in a matter of years.

'We are the service that must lead joint war fighting in this new contested domain. This is what the nation demands.'

If a conflict breaks out between major powers in the future, it could be fought in the final frontier - space, according to US Air Force Chief of Staff General David L. Goldfein (pictured)