No III Space Effects Squadron will counter threats to British space assets using electronic warfare and other technologies
London, Sept 2026 : Britain on Wednesday announced the formation of a new Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron tasked with protecting the country's military satellites, as major powers step up efforts to strengthen their capabilities in space.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the No III Space Effects Squadron would focus on defending critical satellites used for communications and missile-warning functions. It described the unit as Britain's first dedicated squadron intended to counter hostile activities targeting British interests in space.
The squadron will be responsible for “disrupting, degrading, and denying” hostile activity directed against UK space assets, according to the MoD. Its capabilities will include advanced technologies such as electronic warfare, enabling it to respond to threats identified by other military space units.
Britain established two space squadrons in 2023 with responsibilities to “watch and warn” about potential threats to space-based assets. The newly announced squadron is intended to complement those units by taking action against identified threats.
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth is scheduled to formally unveil the new squadron at the two-day UK Space Power Conference in London. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is also expected to address the conference, where he will emphasise the need for Britain to keep pace with developments in what he described as a new space race.
The announcement comes amid growing international concern over the militarisation of outer space. The United States recently confirmed for the first time that it has weapons deployed in orbit around Earth, prompting criticism and warnings from other major powers.
China has warned against turning outer space into a “battlefield”, while Russia has called for space to remain free of weapons. The developments have fuelled concerns that rapid advances in space technology could contribute to an arms race beyond Earth.
The growing military focus on space has also raised questions about the international legal framework governing such activities. Existing treaties place restrictions on certain types of weapons and military activity in space, but technological developments have created new areas of concern, including electronic warfare, satellite interference and other counter-space capabilities.
Britain has previously raised concerns about hostile activity targeting its military satellites. Last year, the head of UK Space Command, Major General Paul Tedman, said he was “really worried” about repeated attempts by Russia to jam British military satellite communications.
At the time, Tedman said Britain was operating six dedicated military satellites providing communications and surveillance capabilities. He also noted that the satellites were equipped with counter-jamming technology.
The creation of the new RAF squadron signals a further expansion of Britain's military focus on protecting space-based infrastructure as governments increasingly view satellites as essential to national security, communications, intelligence and military operations.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
