The Ministry of Defence said the squadron will protect critical space assets used for communications and missile‑warning, and will be empowered to “disrupt, degrade and deny” any enemy activity targeting British interests in space.
No III Space Effects Squadron follows two RAF squadrons launched in 2023 that were limited to monitoring and warning of space threats; the new unit will move beyond observation to active counter‑measures, including electronic‑warfare capabilities.
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth is slated to formally unveil the squadron at the two‑day UK Space Power Conference in London, where Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to stress the need for Britain to “keep pace in the new space race”.
The announcement arrives a little more than a week after the United States publicly confirmed that it has weapons deployed in orbit, a development that prompted China to warn against turning outer space into a battlefield and Russia to call for space to remain free of weapons.
Britain’s push comes amid growing concerns over an emerging arms race in space and the absence of a comprehensive international legal framework governing such activities.
Last year, Major General Paul Tedman, head of UK Space Command, warned that Russia was regularly attempting to jam British military satellites. He noted that the UK now operates six dedicated military satellites equipped with counter‑jamming technology, underscoring the strategic importance of the new squadron.