Space Technology
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what independent capability the UK has to protect its own space assets and interests.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones
UK Space Command’s mission is to protect and defend national and military space interests, and enable UK forces to operate globally.
The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) works to protect the UK from space-related threats and risks. As the military component of NSpoC, No 1 Space Operations Squadron, monitors space activity, defends the UK’s ability to operate in space, and supports military missions with space expertise.
No 2 Space Warning Squadron provides vital support to UK Space Command and allied operations. The squadron contributes to NATO security through global missile warning, and also supports Space Domain Awareness through the detection, tracking, and identification of objects in Space.
The Strategic Defence Review reinforced this Government's commitment to increasing defence spending and strengthening the UK's space capabilities, with clear recommendations to invest in nationally separable capability to control the domain at a time and place of our choosing, global decision advantage, and space-based sensors to understand and act.
Owing to the sensitive nature of UK Space Command’s mission and work, we cannot disclose details on the exact capability utilised as part of its mission or its overall development plans.
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