British Army launches new ‘Space Squadron’ to protect satellites

The British Ministry of Defense announced on the 23rd that a new “Third Space Effects Squadron” will be established in the British Air Force to protect British satellites used for communications and early warning missile attacks.

According to a statement from the British Ministry of Defense, the “3rd Space Effects Squadron” will be the first British force dedicated to “disrupting, weakening and denying hostile threats in space.” It will deploy relevant professional and technical personnel from the British Armed Forces to protect British satellites used for critical tasks such as ship navigation, mobile communications, and early warning of incoming missiles.

The Chief of Staff of the British Air Force, Air Force General Harvest Smith, officially announced the above news when attending the first “British Space Power Conference” in London that day. The conference will last for two days, and British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting will deliver a keynote speech at the conference.

According to information from the British Ministry of Defense, the British Army has established two squadrons at the end of 2023 to perform the task of “monitoring and early warning” space threats. The newly established “Third Space Effects Squadron” will “use advanced technologies such as electronic warfare to take action against space threats” and “provide support for offensive and defensive space operations.”

The British government released an updated version of the “British Space Strategy” earlier this month, proposing “control of space requirements”, which requires the UK to “preserve the freedom of action in space and deny the freedom of action of its opponents.” Last autumn, Paul Tedman, commander of the British Space Command, mentioned in an interview with the British media that the UK currently has six military satellites in orbit for communication and monitoring with anti-jamming capabilities.