The BBC reports that the RAF has used ground-based jamming systems for about a year to disrupt foreign satellites as a defensive measure, potentially to prevent tracking of nuclear submarines and special forces. The MoD has created a Space Effects Squadron to "disrupt, degrade and deny" hostile space threats, while Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned that losing GPS would cost the UK economy around £1.4bn per day. Rising incidents in orbit and recent US, Russian and Chinese actions have fuelled concerns about an escalating space arms race.
UK Says RAF Has Used Ground-Based Jamming To Disrupt Foreign Satellites, BBC Reports
It comes as the UK unveils a new unit dedicated to defending the UK's satellites in space - named the Space Effects Squadron [Getty Images]
The BBC has been told that the UK military has used ground-based systems to jam or block satellites belonging to other countries as a defensive measure.
Sources say the Royal Air Force has operated the capability for around a year and that it has already been used "to deter our adversaries." Officials say the system can be employed to prevent hostile satellites from tracking sensitive operations, including the movements of the UK's nuclear-armed submarines or special forces missions.
New Unit And Growing Concerns
The Ministry of Defence has formed a Space Effects Squadron, which it says will focus on "disrupting, degrading and denying hostile threats in space." The announcement followed warnings from senior military figures about escalating threats in orbit.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting: "Our dependency on space is precisely why it is increasingly under threat from our adversaries." He warned that a prolonged loss of GPS would cost the UK economy an estimated £1.4bn a day and highlighted the broad reliance on satellites for communications, banking, navigation, weather forecasting and emergency services.
Context And International Tensions
Officials and defence commentators note that several other nations are developing or operating similar ground-based counter-space systems. Last year, the then-head of UK Space Command said Russia was attempting to jam UK satellites repeatedly. The UK defence source described Britain's terrestrial electronic warfare capability as "world leading, and more."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Harvey Smyth said there were "more and more irresponsible and provocative actions" from the UK's adversaries. [Getty Images]
Last week the United States publicly confirmed it had deployed an unspecified "weapon" in space to protect its satellites, a move condemned by China and Russia amid concerns of an arms race in orbit. Washington has in turn accused Russia and China of developing a range of space weapons, including jammers, lasers intended to blind satellites, and kinetic projectiles.
Recent Incidents
RAF officials have cited several concerning events this year, including reports in May that five Russian satellites manoeuvred close to two Finnish commercial satellites, and claims that a Russian constellation caused GPS disruptions across Europe and Canada.
The UK operates a small number of military satellites for surveillance and communications and increasingly relies on close cooperation with the US Space Force, which maintains a larger orbital presence.
Note: The BBC report describes the use of jamming as a defensive, deterrent measure. Specific technical details of the UK system and operational rules have not been publicly disclosed.
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