UK military jamming other nations' satellites to defend itself, BBC told

Key Points:

• The British military has been using a ground-based system for the past year to jam or block satellites from other countries, aiming to protect sensitive military operations and deter adversaries.
• The RAF has established a new Space Effects Squadron focused on disrupting, degrading, and denying hostile threats in space to safeguard British satellites critical for missile warnings, communications, and navigation.
• Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the UK's heavy reliance on satellites for daily life and warned that losing GPS services could cost the economy £1.4bn daily, emphasizing growing threats from adversaries in space.
• The UK faces increasing provocations from rival nations, including Russia's satellite maneuvers and GPS disruptions, while the US has confirmed deploying space-based weapons, raising concerns about a potential arms race in space.
• RAF leadership stressed the critical role satellites play in everyday technology, security, and climate monitoring, warning that without them, essential services and infrastructure would become less efficient and more vulnerable.