Russia's Persistent Jamming of UK Military Satellites Reveals Growing Space Security Threats

The United Kingdom operates six dedicated military satellites for communications and surveillance purposes. (Representational)

United Kingdom:

According to the head of UK Space Command, Russia is consistently attempting to jam British military satellites, amid escalating tensions between Moscow and several European nations.

Major General Paul Tedman informed the BBC, "We're observing our satellites being jammed by the Russians on a reasonably persistent basis."

He further explained, "They have payloads on board that can detect our satellites and are attempting to extract information from them," expressing significant concern about this development.

The UK's six dedicated military satellites for communications and surveillance are equipped with counter-jamming technology, Tedman noted.

He revealed that Russian forces attempt to jam UK satellites "weekly," with such activities having increased since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Neil Buchanan, CEO of Lodestar Space, welcomed the public acknowledgment of this issue.

Lodestar Space is developing technology to autonomously detect and track satellites that shadow or interfere with others from orbit.

The company is also creating the first autonomous AI fighter-pilot designed for space operations.

"These issues were previously only discussed behind closed doors. Seeing them acknowledged publicly represents a positive step forward and allows us to prepare more honestly and respond more effectively," Buchanan stated.

He emphasized that space is no longer "an abstract domain" but serves as the "backbone for operations across air, sea, and land -- and increasingly the arena for military activity in its own right."

"Recognizing this openly enables us to move faster to protect the systems our lives depend on," he added.

The threat of space-based interference extends beyond the UK.

Last month, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius disclosed that Russia had been tracking two Intelsat satellites utilized by the German military.

"They can jam, blind, manipulate, or kinetically disrupt satellites," he stated.

Germany has committed to investing 35 billion euros ($41 billion) in outer space defense by 2030, citing threats posed by Russia and its ally China.