UK Military Satellites Under Threat from Russian Interference

Wed Oct 22 2025 01:54:06 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The UK's military satellites are facing regular interference from Russian satellites, according to recent statements by the head of UK Space Command. This highlights the growing tension in space operations.

Major General Paul Tedman, head of the UK Space Command, has revealed that Russian satellites are stalking British military satellites on a weekly basis, attempting to jam signals and gather information. He emphasized the persistent and deliberate nature of these actions, which have escalated since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The UK government is urged to increase its investment in space defense to counter these threats.

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 highlighted the interference from Moscow against the UK's space assets, revealing that Russia attempts to jam the UK's military satellites weekly.

Last month, Germany's Defence Minister also mentioned that Russian satellites had been shadowing their military satellites.

Gen Tedman explained that the Russians' close interest in British operations includes the deployment of payloads capable of collecting information. They've got payloads on board that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them, he stated.

Although UK military satellites are equipped with counter-jamming technologies, the frequency of jamming incidents has increased, with the situation becoming more pronounced since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The UK maintains about a half-dozen dedicated military satellites, in stark contrast to the U.S., China, and Russia, each of which operates over 100 satellites. The combined fleet of Russian and Chinese satellites has grown by 70% over the preceding decade.

Gen Tedman voiced his concerns regarding both the threats in space and the rising congestion, with around 45,000 objects, including 9,000 satellites, currently in orbit. He noted that this year is projected to see over 300 rocket launches.

Regarding military readiness, the UK government is promising an investment into space and missile defense, including testing sensors designed to detect laser threats from adversaries like China and Russia.

Gen Tedman acknowledged the potential for missile attacks, stressing the importance of prioritizing space defenses in light of the UK's economic reliance on satellite technology, estimated at around £450bn.

As tensions escalate in eastern Europe, particularly with Russia frequently launching missiles into Ukraine, the UK's commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities in space has never been more critical.