UK to Establish New RAF Squadron to Counter Threats to Military Satellites
LONDON: The United Kingdom is set to establish a new Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron focused on protecting the country’s military satellites from potential threats in space.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the new unit, named No III Space Effects Squadron, will focus on protecting critical satellites used for communications and missile warning systems.
According to the ministry, the squadron will be the UK’s first dedicated military unit tasked with responding to hostile activities targeting British interests in space. Its capabilities will include advanced technologies such as electronic warfare.
The UK previously established two RAF squadrons in 2023 to monitor and provide warnings about potential threats to space-based assets. The new squadron will have a more active role in responding to such threats.
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth is scheduled to formally unveil the unit during the two-day UK Space Power Conference in London. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is also expected to address the conference and highlight the need for Britain to keep pace with developments in military space capabilities.
The announcement comes shortly after the United States confirmed that it has weapons deployed in orbit. The development has raised concerns among other major powers about the growing military use of outer space.
China has warned against turning space into a battlefield, while Russia has called for outer space to remain free of weapons.
Growing military interest in space has been driven partly by advances in technology, while international rules governing military activities in orbit remain limited.
The UK has also previously raised concerns about potential interference with its military satellites. Last year, the head of UK Space Command, Major General Paul Tedman, said Russia had repeatedly attempted to disrupt British military satellite communications.
At the time, the UK was operating six dedicated military satellites for communications and surveillance, equipped with technology designed to reduce the impact of signal jamming.
