UK Military Satellites Under Persistent Threat from Russian Interference

Thu Oct 16 2025 22:24:27 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

UK Space Command reveals ongoing Russian attempts to jam and surveil British military satellites, raising concerns over national security in the space domain.

In a recent interview, Major General Paul Tedman of the UK Space Command disclosed that Russian satellites have been closely monitoring UK military satellites, with Moscow reportedly attempting to jam communications on a weekly basis. This escalation in space-based interference comes amidst rising tensions due to Russia's actions in Ukraine, prompting the UK to enhance its defense capabilities in space.

Russian satellites have been stalking British military satellites, according to the head of the UK Space Command.

In an interview with the BBC, Maj Gen Paul Tedman has for the first time set out the level of interference from Moscow against the UK's space-based assets.

He said Russia had also been trying to jam the UK's military satellites with ground-based systems every week.

Last month Germany's Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, said Russia had been shadowing satellites used by their military.

Gen Tedman provided details on Russia's surveillance activities, mentioning that they are interested in what the UK is doing and are flying relatively close, equipped with payloads capable of gathering information from UK satellites.

Despite counter-jamming technologies fitted on UK military satellites, Gen Tedman reported that jamming attempts from Russia have been frequent and persistent, particularly increasing since the outset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The UK has half a dozen dedicated military satellites in orbit, significantly fewer compared to over a hundred possessed by each of the US, China, and Russia. Over the past decade, the combined fleet of Russian and Chinese satellites has surged by 70%.

Both Russia and China have tested anti-satellite weapons, raising concerns regarding the potential for space-based nuclear capabilities being developed by Russia. Gen Tedman expressed that while the US views China as a pacing threat, Russia remains the more immediate danger due to a greater willingness to employ counter-space systems.

The general conveyed significant worries regarding the increasing congestion in space, now with approximately 45,000 objects in orbit, including 9,000 satellites, and anticipates hundreds more rocket launches within the year.

During a visit to RAF Fylingdales, home to Britain and America's Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, he emphasized the critical need for the UK to prioritize its space capabilities as they are vital to both its economy (£450 billion dependent on space) and military operations.

The UK government is reportedly planning further investments in space and missile defense systems, including testing sensors to detect laser threats, highlighting the urgency for robust countermeasures against adversarial nations like Russia and China.

As the UK navigates its defense strategy in the realm of space, the looming threat of space warfare underscores the necessity for vigilance and readiness against potential incursions into its satellite communications and operations.