UK Government Looks to Airbus to Enhance Space-Based Defence

The U.K. government is looking to tap into the space-based defence capabilities of Airbus Defence and Space in a major new partnership deal. The company, one of the U.K.’s leading space companies, has become a partner in the UK Ministry of Defence’s Missile Defence Centre (MDC), the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Missile Defence, the company announced Jan. 19.

The MDC, part of the MoD’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) directorate, is a British government-industry partnership designed to enhance opportunities relating to Ballistic Missile Defence. Since being established in 2003, the MDC’s remit has expanded from considering the threat from traditional ballistic missiles to advanced missiles, including hypersonic threats.

“Airbus has been working closely with DSTL and Space Command on various intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ‘Protect and Defend’ projects that could significantly enhance the UK’s capabilities in ballistic defence, making Airbus an invaluable space partner in the MoD’s Missile Defence Centre partnership,” Markos Trichas, Head of UK Military Space Future Programmes at Airbus Defence and Space, said in a statement.