The Royal Air Force has launched No. III Space Effects Squadron, marking the UK's first dedicated unit aimed at countering hostile threats to British satellites. Announced today by Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smith, Chief of the Air Staff, the squadron will bring together specialist personnel from across the Armed Forces.
The new unit is designed to disrupt, degrade, and deny hostile actions in orbit, using advanced technology, including Electronic Warfare. It will support both offensive and defensive space operations and is expected to expand as new capabilities become available.
Satellites are crucial for national security, intelligence gathering, and missile warnings, as well as supporting daily life through mobile phone data, weather forecasts, and emergency services' navigation systems. The formation of No. III Space Effects Squadron contributes to the UK’s developing capabilities for space warfare, including countermeasures against anti-satellite weapons.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to state that control of space will be essential this century, mirroring the importance of naval power in the 19th century and air power in the 20th. He is anticipated to emphasise the growing threat to space assets from adversaries.