This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Britain announced Wednesday that it will launch a new military space squadron to defend the country's satellites, the latest move as countries race to develop military space capabilities. The new Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron will protect critical satellites used for communications and to warn of incoming missile attacks, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
It described the unit—to be known as No III Space Effects Squadron—as the country's first dedicated to "disrupting, degrading, and denying enemy activity targeting British interests in space." The MoD noted that the UK launched two squadrons in 2023 that "watch and warn" of space threats. The new unit will "act against those threats, using advanced technology, including electronic warfare." Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth will formally unveil the squadron Wednesday at a two-day UK Space Power Conference in London, where Defense Secretary Wes Streeting will also warn that Britain must "keep pace in the new space race." The announcement comes just over a week after the United States confirmed for the first time that it has arms deployed in orbit above Earth. That prompted China to warn against turning outer space into a "battlefield" and Russia to caution that it must be "free from any weapon," amid fears of an arms race in space.
The developments are being driven by rapid technological advances and a lack of a comprehensive legal framework. Paul Tedman, the head of UK Space Command, warned that he was "really worried" by Russia's regular attempts to jam British military satellites. He noted at the time that the UK was operating six dedicated military satellites for communications and surveillance, equipped with counter-jamming technology.
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