RAF launches UK’s first dedicated squadron to counter hostile activity in space

The Royal Air Force is launching the UK’s first dedicated military unit focused on countering hostile activity in space, as Britain moves to strengthen its ability to protect critical satellites and maintain freedom of operation in an increasingly contested domain.

No. III Space Effects Squadron, announced by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth at the first UK Space Power Conference, will bring together specialist personnel from across the Armed Forces to respond to threats against British interests in orbit.

The squadron will be tasked with disrupting, degrading and denying hostile space activity, using advanced capabilities including electronic warfare.

The new unit will play a central role in protecting satellites that have become essential to both national security and everyday life. Satellite systems guide British ships, support mobile phone connectivity, provide missile-warning capabilities and enable navigation used by emergency services. They also underpin weather forecasting, online services and the operation of energy networks.

No. III Space Effects Squadron will complement the RAF’s existing space units. No. I Space Operations Squadron provides space operations capabilities, while No. II Space Warning Squadron monitors and warns of threats in space.

The new squadron is intended to provide the operational response, supporting both defensive and offensive space operations and expanding as additional capabilities enter service.

The formation of the squadron comes as the government places greater emphasis on Britain’s ability to operate in space amid growing competition between states.

The UK’s recently published Space Strategy sets out a requirement for the country to maintain its freedom to operate in space while seeking to deny adversaries the ability to use space against British interests.

Speaking at the conference, Air Chief Marshal Smyth said space had moved beyond being a supporting element of military operations and had become a domain in which strategic advantage could be gained or lost. He said the new squadron would protect the benefits that space provides to Britain’s armed forces while developing the ability to deny those benefits to potential adversaries.

The move reflects wider concerns about the growing ability of hostile states to interfere with satellites through jamming, disruption and other forms of attack. As more military and civilian systems depend on space-based infrastructure, interference with satellites could have consequences extending well beyond the battlefield.

The government’s approach is also linked to a broader programme to strengthen Britain’s space capabilities. The formation of No. III Space Effects Squadron contributes to developing capabilities in electronic warfare and countermeasures against anti-satellite weapons, supporting what the government describes as its “Control of Space Requirement”.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to use his keynote address at the conference to argue that control of strategic domains has historically shaped military deterrence, drawing comparisons between naval power in the 19th century, air power in the 20th century and space power in the 21st century.

He is expected to warn that Britain’s dependence on space is also making the country increasingly vulnerable to competitors whose capabilities are becoming more sophisticated.

The government’s space policy nevertheless distinguishes between strengthening defensive and operational capabilities and the destructive use of space weapons. Britain has formally ruled out destructive anti-satellite missile testing and continues to work through the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to promote responsible behaviour and the peaceful and sustainable use of space.

The UK is also increasing cooperation with allies and partners as it develops its space capabilities. The government has committed £880 million between 2026/27 and 2029/30 to space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and space-control activities, reflecting the growing importance attached to space within national security planning.

The creation of No. III Space Effects Squadron therefore marks a significant expansion of the RAF’s role in space. Rather than simply monitoring activity in orbit or warning of emerging threats, the new unit is being established to provide the means to respond to hostile actions.