The United Kingdom has announced the launch of a new military unit dedicated to defending satellites and protecting services that people rely on. The new unit, Space Effects Squadron 3, will be announced on Wednesday, as part of the UK's efforts to enhance its space capabilities. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will warn that Britain needs to keep pace with the new space race.
The new squadron, part of the Royal Air Force, will protect satellites used for warning of incoming missile attacks, providing communications, and guiding ships. It will bring together specialized personnel from across the UK armed forces to counter hostile activity in orbit and defend satellites that the UK relies on daily. The unit will use advanced technology, including electronic warfare, to disrupt and prevent hostile actions.
The launch of the new squadron comes as part of the UK's efforts to bolster its defenses against threats from space. The UK government recently released a strategy aimed at enhancing its space capabilities, which includes £7.8 billion in funding for the space sector by 2030. The UK has also committed to working through the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to promote responsible behavior in space.
The UK's move into space military capabilities comes amid warnings of rising threats from other countries. The UK's Space Command reported last year that Russia was regularly jamming British military satellites. In response to the UK's announcement, China warned against turning space into a battlefield and engaging in an arms race.
The US has also been enhancing its space military capabilities, establishing the US Space Force in 2019 as a sixth branch of its armed forces. Earlier this month, the US announced that it had deployed weapons in space for the first time. The UK's new squadron will work alongside existing units, including the 1st Space Operations Squadron and the 2nd Space Surveillance Squadron.
The UK's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smith, will say that space is no longer a supporting role, but a competitive domain where military advantage can be gained or lost. The new squadron will support both defensive and offensive space operations and will expand as new capabilities come online.
The UK's announcement comes as the country continues to work on its space strategy, which includes a commitment to not conducting destructive anti-satellite missile tests. The UK is working to promote responsible behavior in space and to enhance its space capabilities in the face of rising threats from other countries.
Key points
- The UK has launched a new military unit, Space Effects Squadron 3, to protect satellites and support space operations.
- The unit will use advanced technology, including electronic warfare, to disrupt and prevent hostile actions in space.
- The UK's move into space military capabilities comes amid warnings of rising threats from other countries, including Russia and China.
