Good morning, everyone. I believe I have control of the PowerPoint presentation. There we go. The Minister just mentioned it’s rather warm up here, so I’m thankful I opted for my woollen Spitfire suit.
It is truly a pleasure to see so many esteemed guests, colleagues, allies, and friends gathered here for the UK Space Power Conference in what is an unexpectedly sunny London. It is delightful to spot many familiar faces in the audience, although I must admit I feel somewhat apprehensive about the group in light blue at the back, who are surely here to hold me accountable for what I am about to discuss.
I am particularly pleased to welcome numerous new faces and to engage with a variety of individuals from the space sector, including scientists, academics, and industry specialists. We also have notable financial leaders and a strong representation from the government. Thank you all for your support of this conference; it is genuinely appreciated.
Just a few months ago, I stood before many of my international counterparts at the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference, where I laid out the Royal Air Force’s ambition to become Europe’s first sixth-generation air force through initiatives like the Global Combat Air Programme and our new Collaborative Combat Air Programme, the Storm Fighter, which will operate alongside F-35s, Typhoons, and various autonomous systems. However, these capabilities will only reach their full potential with the integration of space, which is why our discussions over the next two days are so crucial.
The Integral Role of Space in Modern Air Power
From my perspective, achieving a sixth-generation air force is impossible if we are still reliant on a fourth-generation space force. This is a critical discussion point for the coming days. Space has become a fundamental requirement for contemporary air power; every aspect of a sixth-generation air force is intricately linked to space, including networks, targeting, navigation, and command and control.
No longer is space merely a supportive element; it is now fully integrated into air power and is essential to its DNA. The significance of space extends beyond aviation; effective utilisation of space is vital for our integrated forces to understand, communicate, mobilise, and engage in combat. As we draw lessons from ongoing conflicts in regions such as Ukraine and the Middle East, it is evident that a swift transition to uncrewed systems is necessary.
Uncrewed forces are inherently dependent on space, further emphasising the importance of this domain for defence. Space is often referred to as the ultimate high ground, providing our integrated forces with a decisive operational advantage that facilitates swifter, more precise, and generally more effective actions. This is a benefit we must safeguard and, if possible, deny to our adversaries.
Space services form the invisible link between our naval, ground, and aerial forces, underpinning our entire approach to strategic deterrence, command and control, and decision-making advantage. Moreover, space plays a crucial role in the fabric of modern society.
Recognising the Critical Need for Space Integration
As I made my way here, I was reminded of the importance of space, as I was alerted to the time and realised I needed to hurry to avoid being late. It has been six years since I became the first director of space for the Ministry of Defence, and while space was an important topic at that time, I would argue it is now imperative that we deepen our understanding and advocacy for it across the entire government, especially if we are serious about modern deterrence.
It is our duty to ensure that everyone in defence understands that the integrated force’s success hinges on space integration. Space must be woven into the very fabric of how we generate and operate military forces. In line with this, the Royal Air Force headquarters at RAF High Wycombe has recently transitioned to Air and Space Command, a change that signifies more than just a name adjustment; it reflects our recognition that space is now a warfighting domain of equal importance to other operational areas.
Space is a contested, congested, and competitive environment where our operational edge can be gained or lost rapidly. We can no longer defer or delegate space-related matters; it is imperative that we take decisive action in this domain, which has been my key message to our department.
Building Strong International Partnerships for Space Operations
It is important to note that we cannot achieve our objectives through national efforts alone. The UK relies on our international partnerships, and I am delighted to see so many colleagues from around the world joining us today. Our coalition of space partners, which spans the globe, represents our greatest strength and is an alliance that our potential adversaries both envy and fear. Each member contributes unique capabilities and assets, enhancing our collective security beyond mere numbers.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is our most vital alliance. While we are developing sovereign space capabilities, these will always be integrated into NATO forces and our broader approach to strategic deterrence. NATO was pioneering in recognising space as a domain in 2019, and two years later, it expanded our collective defence policy to explicitly include threats originating from, within, or to space. This was a definitive declaration of intent: an attack on one in space is an attack on all, just as in more conventional domains.
While the UK strategy prioritises NATO, we are not solely reliant on it. Earlier this year, I attended a meeting in Colorado with counterparts from ten other nations, from the USA in the West to New Zealand in the East, as part of the Principals Board of the Combined Space Operations Initiative. We committed to intensifying our efforts to develop capabilities that support combined space operations, thereby establishing a web of global space power that produces mutually supportive capabilities unmatched by any adversary.
Implementing Multinational Space Operations
Central to our strategy is the Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender, which serves as our primary international operational framework for responsible combined space operations currently in progress. Last September, we executed the first UK-US space operation under the Olympic Defender banner, successfully completing a Rendezvous Proximity Operation in geostationary orbit, bringing one of our SKYNET satellites close to a satellite operated by US Space Command. To put that into perspective, we were 35,776 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, with satellites travelling at a speed of 11,000 kilometres per hour—approximately three kilometres per second. A collision at that velocity would have catastrophic consequences, resulting in significant debris in an already congested orbit.
Such operations require the utmost care, precision, and most importantly, collaboration. When another nation manoeuvres their satellite near ours without coordination, it is both dangerous and unprofessional—akin to an aircraft flying within 50 feet of another without proper communication.
Regrettably, we have witnessed an increase in reckless and provocative actions from our adversaries, blatantly disregarding established norms for responsible behaviour among space-faring nations. In May of this year, we observed a series of unusual and concerning manoeuvres by five Russian military satellites, which moved alarmingly close to two commercial satellites. These actions were not only uncommon but also perilous, raising serious concerns about Russia’s intentions in space. Furthermore, in June, it was confirmed that a Russian satellite constellation had disrupted GPS signals across Europe, Greenland, and Canada for at least 75 days since 2019.
Confronting Emerging Threats to Global Navigation Systems
We all rely on GPS, a highly effective system managed by our colleagues in the US Space Force, utilised by billions globally and integral to many military operations. Significant disruptions to GPS could result in an economic impact of approximately £1.4 billion per day for the UK, leading to Sat-Nav failures, traffic chaos, and delays for emergency services reaching those in need.
The satellite services we often take for granted are now facing unprecedented threats. The loss of these services—be it the Sat-Nav keeping us on course, timing signals for financial transactions, or Earth observation capabilities for monitoring weather and climate change—would hinder efficiency, prosperity, and security across various sectors represented in this room.
Our adversaries are acutely aware of this and are actively developing sophisticated space systems, equipped with both the capability and the intent to exploit them. Last year, the commander of UK Space Command indicated that Russia is attempting to jam UK military satellites with ground-based systems on a weekly basis, while Germany’s defence minister reported that Russia has been shadowing their military satellites. Concurrently, we face grey zone activities across all domains, and space has emerged as a critical arena of strategic competition. Whether we like it or not, space has become a warfighting domain, and the UK, along with its partners and allies, must be prepared for this reality.
Investment in Space Capability and Infrastructure
Fortunately, this recognition is now prevalent across the UK government. The Strategic Defence Review conducted last June identified space as critical national infrastructure, underpinning 20% of the UK’s GDP, equivalent to nearly £500 billion. The review also outlined the Ministry of Defence’s requirement for investment in space control, decision advantage, reconnaissance,