Key facts
- The UK is launching the No III Space Effects Squadron to defend satellites.
- The new unit will integrate specialists from across the armed forces.
- The squadron aims to counter hostile activity in orbit and defend critical satellite services.
- The UK has ruled out destructive anti-satellite missile testing.
- Russia has been accused of jamming UK military satellites.
- The United States recently deployed weapons in space for the first time.
The UK is establishing a new military unit, the No III Space Effects Squadron, dedicated to defending its satellites and countering threats in orbit. The squadron, set to be announced on Wednesday, will bring together specialists from across the armed forces to protect essential services such as missile warning systems, communications, and navigation.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the need for the UK to "keep pace in the new space race," drawing parallels to historical control of the seas and skies. He stated that control of space will be crucial in the 21st century. The Ministry of Defence indicated that the new squadron will employ advanced technologies, including electronic warfare, to "disrupt, degrade and deny hostile actions" and will support both offensive and defensive space operations.
This move comes amid growing concerns about military capabilities in space. The UK Space Command reported last year that Russia has been regularly attempting to jam UK military satellites. The United States recently announced the deployment of weapons in space for the first time, a development that China's foreign ministry warned could lead to an arms race and turn space into a battlefield.
The UK government has formally renounced destructive anti-satellite missile testing and is working through the UN committee on the peaceful uses of outer space to promote responsible space behavior. The announcement coincides with a government strategy aimed at strengthening space defenses, which includes £30 million in further funding for the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland and a total of £7.8 billion allocated to the space sector through 2030.