Via Satellite archive photo

The UK Space Command (UKSC) is developing sensors to protect critical national satellites from laser threats from adversaries. 

The Ministry of Defence said that the new sensor technology under development will be able to determine the characteristics of lasers in space or on the ground and whether they pose a threat to satellites. This would be used for satellites that enable services like bank transfers and weather forecasts to emergency services and intelligence operations. 

Last week, the MoD announced an investment of 500,000 pounds ($672,000) into this project, from the UK Space Agency’s Unlocking Space for Government program. 

This comes after the U.K.’s Strategic Defence Review released earlier this year identified defense in space as central to warfighting and protecting national infrastructure. The MoD noting that nearly 20% of the national GDP is reliant on satellite services. 

“[The review] made it clear that space does not just accessorize our way of war, in many respects it is changing it fundamentally. It also made clear that threats to our national interests in space are increasing,” UKSC Commander Maj. Gen. Paul Tedman said in a release. “In this new era of threats, UK Space Command is competing against a growing arsenal of adversary counterspace systems and requires new and innovative edge technology to protect and defend our satellites.”