The U.K. Government has made a major new space defense initiative by launching its first ever dedicated squadron to protect its satellites. The No. 3 Space Effects Squadron (SES) will be charged with disrupting, degrading and denying hostile activity to defend U.K. space interests and gain operational advantage for the integrated force. The U.K’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth announced the formation of this squadron at the U.K. Space Power event in London, Sept. 23.
The squadron will be staffed by specialist personnel from across defense and will support offensive and defensive space operations, safeguarding critical space services. The formation of No. 3 Space Effects Squadron aims to contribute to the U.K’s developing capabilities for space warfare, including electronic warfare and countermeasures against anti-satellite weapons. The squadron will protect the critical satellites that guide British ships, connect mobile phones and warn of missile attacks.
The U.K. already has No. 1 Space Ops Squadron working as part of the NSPOC and No. 2 Space Warning Squadron delivering operational activity from its RAF Fylingdales. The new No. 3 Space Effects Squadron will aim to deliver precise, integrated effects to safeguard the U.K’s national interests in space.
“We are planning more. Numbers 4, 5 and 6 Squadrons, including a Space Tactics and Training Squadron, and squadrons which will deliver the deep space advanced radar capability. We will never escalate military activity in space, but we must respond responsibly to a rapidly changing environment in which threats to our critical space systems are growing every single day,” Smyth said.
