UK to launch first RAF space squadron to counter hostile threats

The UK is set to launch an RAF squadron to disrupt, degrade, and deny hostile threats in space.

The dedicated military unit will protect satellites used to warn of incoming missile attacks, provide communications and help guide ships, the Ministry of Defence said.

The No III Space Effects Squadron will be announced by Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth at the UK’s Space Power Conference on Wednesday, where Defence Secretary Wes Streeting will warn the UK must “keep pace in the new space race”.

Mr Streeting is expected to say: “Control of the waves was the essential ingredient in 19th century deterrence.

“That is why Britain built the finest naval power in history. In the 20th century it was control of the skies, and so we built a world-class air force to protect us.

“This century will depend on control of space. Our dependency on space is precisely why it is increasingly under threat from our adversaries. That threat is growing in scale, speed, and sophistication. And challenges in space increasingly mirror the geopolitics on Earth.

“My job is to make sure that our deterrence in space is as strong as it is on Earth, and to modernise our armed forces so that they are ready to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary, in any domain.”

The announcement comes weeks after the release of a new government strategy designed to strengthen defences against threats from space.

SaxaVord Spaceport, on the island of Unst, Shetland, at the northernmost point of the UK, is set to receive a further £30 million in support through the UK Space Strategy.

The strategy sets out funding of £7.8 billion across the space sector up to 2030.

Included in the funding is £2.8 billion for the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit and Skynet defence communications programme.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds previously said the government wanted to strengthen the UK’s ability to launch satellites.

Mr Reynolds said: “As space becomes a new frontier of economic and military competition, this plan will help keep Britain secure by strengthening our ability to launch satellites, detect threats and protect the services people rely on every day.”

A number of companies plan to use SaxaVord Spaceport as a hub for commercial rockets, hoping to tap into global demand for satellite launches.

German company Rocket Factory Augsburg is working towards the first vertical orbital test flight from UK soil, while HyImpulse is preparing for a sub-orbital launch campaign.