Russia has been targeting UK satellites in space weekly, as disclosed by Maj Gen Paul Tedman, the head of the UK Space Command. Gen Tedman made the revelation during a visit to RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, where the UK and US Ballistic Missile Early Warning System is located. He highlighted Moscow’s persistent efforts to disrupt UK assets, including attempts to jam satellites using ground-based systems.
According to Gen Tedman, Russia is actively monitoring and attempting to gather information from the satellites. He emphasized that Russia’s satellites are flying near UK satellites with payloads capable of collecting data. Gen Tedman also mentioned the UK’s commitment to investing a billion pounds in integrated air and missile defense, hinting at a space defense aspect similar to America’s Golden Dome.
Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, recently issued a similar warning about Russia shadowing their military satellites. Pistorius raised concerns about Russia and China rapidly enhancing their space warfare capabilities in recent years. He cautioned that satellite networks are crucial to modern societies and can be paralyzed through disruption, blinding, manipulation, or destruction. Pistorius stressed that future conflicts will extend beyond Earth and involve battles in orbit.
This development underscores the escalating concerns surrounding space security and the need for robust defense mechanisms to safeguard against potential threats to satellite operations and national security.