UK Military Satellites Targeted Weekly by Russia, Says Space Command Chief
British military satellites are being persistently jammed and monitored by Russia, according to the head of UK Space Command, Major General Paul Tedman. In a recent interview, Tedman revealed that Russian satellites are flying close to the UK's assets in space, allegedly attempting to gather intelligence and disrupt operations. "We’re seeing our satellites being jammed by the Russians on a reasonably persistent basis," he stated, adding that this activity occurs on a weekly basis and has ramped up since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The UK currently operates around six dedicated military satellites, equipped with counter-jamming technology, but Tedman said Russian payloads are actively trying to "collect information" from them. Meanwhile, Russia has also been accused of tracking German satellites and is known to possess the capability to “jam, blind, manipulate or kinetically disrupt satellites,” according to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
In response to rising threats, the UK and US carried out a joint satellite manoeuvre last month under Operation Olympic Defender. Between September 4th and 12th, a US satellite was moved to inspect a UK satellite and confirm it was fully operational. The move marked a new level of cooperation between allied space forces. “Expertly executed with US Space Command, I could not be more pleased or proud of the rapid progress we are making with our allies,” Tedman said.
As space becomes increasingly contested, the UK is under pressure to boost its investment. Currently spending just 1% of its defence budget on space, the UK lags behind France and the US. Tedman warned that the country’s economy and military operations are heavily dependent on space, and highlighted concerns about anti-satellite weapons and lasers developed by Russia and China.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper recently warned that the UK is “ready to act,” after a series of provocative Russian actions, including violations of NATO airspace. With over 45,000 objects in orbit and tensions escalating, Tedman says the UK must treat space not just as a strategic domain, but a priority: “I’m really worried about what’s happening up there.”
