Russia's Ongoing Satellite Threat to the UK's Military Operations

Mon Oct 20 2025 22:13:15 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

UK Space Command reveals that Russian activities targeting UK military satellites are escalating with weekly interference.

Maj Gen Paul Tedman of the UK Space Command has publicly acknowledged that Russia has been routinely stalking and jamming British military satellites. This activity has intensified since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with tactical efforts to gather intelligence on UK satellite operations. Tedman emphasizes the urgency of increasing investment in space defense, citing the increasing congestion in space and the capabilities of Russia and China.

Russian satellites have been stalking British military satellites, according to the head of the UK Space Command.

In an interview with the BBC, Maj Gen Paul Tedman has for the first time set out the level of interference from Moscow against the UK's space-based assets.

He said Russia had also been trying to jam the UK's military satellites with ground-based systems every week.

Last month Germany's Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, said Russia had been shadowing satellites used by their military.

Gen Tedman provided details on the operational maneuvers of the Russians, stating, They're interested in what we're doing and flying relatively close. He noted, They've got payloads on board that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them.

Despite the UK military satellites being equipped with counter-jamming technologies, he reported, We're seeing our satellites being jammed by the Russians on a reasonably persistent basis.

He indicated these jamming activities occur on a weekly basis, escalating since the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The UK operates a modest fleet of military satellites compared to the hundreds posited by major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia.

Alarmingly, Gen Tedman mentioned, Russia and China have both tested anti-satellite weapons. Moreover, he expressed concern over Russia's intentions to potentially place nuclear weapons in space.

While the U.S. considers China to be the primary threat, Tedman considers Russia's aggressive space maneuvers to constitute a more immediate menace. He stressed his worries about space becoming increasingly congested, with a projection of 300 rocket launches within the year alone.

On a visit to RAF Fylingdales, Tedman underscored the significance of space in defense of national security, citing the U.K. government's promises to invest more in space and missile defense systems.

The UK is actively looking to counter threats from space, including testing sensors to detect laser threats that both China and Russia have developed for disabling satellites.

Amidst these growing complexities, the balance of maintaining defense readiness and enhancing space capabilities remains a critical focus for the UK's defense strategy.