The UK’s Royal Air Force has established No. III Space Effects Squadron, the country’s first specialized unit dedicated to countering hostile activity in space.
The creation of the squadron was announced on September 23 by UK Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth at the UK Space Power Conference in London.
The new unit will be tasked with disrupting, degrading and denying hostile activity to protect British interests in space. It will bring together specialist personnel from across the UK’s armed forces and conduct both offensive and defensive space operations.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, No. III Space Effects Squadron will use advanced technologies, including electronic warfare capabilities, to counter threats to British satellites.
The new squadron will complement the existing No. I Space Operations Squadron, which works with the National Space Operations Centre, and No. II Space Warning Squadron, which provides missile warning and space-tracking capabilities.
The UK also plans to establish additional space squadrons. According to Harv Smyth, these will include No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 Squadrons, including a space tactics and training unit and squadrons that will deliver the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability.
The UK will also develop a Space Defence function within the newly established Integrated Air, Space and Missile Defence Operations Centre.
