Russia repeatedly targets UK military satellites, warns Space Command chief

Published: 03 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Russia is actively attempting to disrupt UK military satellites on a near-weekly basis, according to the head of the UK Space Command, highlighting a growing dimension of international tension in space operations. Speaking to the BBC, Maj Gen Paul Tedman said Russian forces are persistently jamming the country’s satellite communications and closely monitoring UK-based space assets.

“We’re seeing our satellites being jammed by the Russians on a reasonably persistent basis,” Tedman explained, adding that these efforts are part of a broader campaign to gather intelligence and potentially undermine military operations. The UK currently operates approximately six dedicated military satellites for communications and surveillance, all equipped with counter-jamming technology to mitigate interference.

Tedman noted that the Russian threat extends beyond simple disruption. “They’ve got payloads onboard that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them,” he said, underscoring the sophisticated nature of contemporary space-based threats. The concerns are not limited to the UK, with Germany recently reporting similar intrusions. In September, Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius revealed that Russian forces had been tracking two German military Intelsat satellites, raising alarms over the potential for jamming, blinding, or even physically manipulating satellites in orbit.

In response to the growing risk of interference, the UK and the US conducted their first coordinated satellite manoeuvre last month, described by officials as a landmark step in allied space defence. Between 4 and 12 September, a US satellite was repositioned in orbit to inspect a UK satellite and confirm its operational integrity. The operation, part of the joint military initiative Operation Olympic Defender, is designed to improve satellite resilience, strengthen cooperation among allies, and demonstrate readiness in space-based operations.

“Expertly executed with US Space Command, I could not be more pleased or proud of the rapid progress we are making with our allies,” Tedman said, highlighting the strategic importance of the collaboration.

The escalation in space activity comes amid rising tensions with Russia in multiple theatres. The UK foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, recently warned that Britain is prepared to take action following provocative behaviour by Russian aircraft. This follows a call by the US president, Donald Trump, urging NATO allies to shoot down Russian planes intruding on allied airspace. Cooper, speaking to the United Nations in September, described Moscow’s violations of NATO airspace, including incidents over Estonia, Poland, and Romania, as “provocative and reckless.”

Experts note that the current situation underscores the growing importance of space as a domain of military operations. Satellites are critical not only for communications and surveillance but also for intelligence gathering, navigation, and missile guidance systems. Any disruption or interference could have far-reaching implications for national security and the operational capabilities of allied forces.

The UK Space Command is now focusing on strengthening defensive measures, upgrading counter-jamming capabilities, and deepening collaboration with allies to ensure the integrity of its satellites. Officials have emphasized that preparedness in space is essential to maintaining both national security and strategic deterrence against increasingly sophisticated adversaries.

As the geopolitical climate evolves, Maj Gen Tedman and other defence officials have highlighted the need for international rules governing space activity to prevent conflict escalation. While the UK and its allies continue to pursue diplomatic avenues, the persistent targeting of military satellites by Russia illustrates the increasing militarization of space and the high stakes of maintaining operational security beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

The UK government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding space assets, emphasizing that threats in orbit are taken as seriously as threats on land, sea, or in the air. With coordinated exercises, technological upgrades, and close collaboration with international partners, British defence authorities aim to ensure that their satellite infrastructure remains secure in the face of ongoing adversarial activity.