The UK is under threat from lasers
British businesses, emergency services, and more will be protected from drastic disruption by new sensors that identify laser threats from adversaries to military and civilian satellites in space.
Lasers can be used by adversaries to track the location of satellites, dazzle or blind them, or to intercept and interrupt communications.
The new sensor technology under development will be able to determine the characteristics of lasers based in space or on the ground and whether they pose a threat to the satellite, providing the military with crucial information to protect and defend the UK and allied space systems and assets.
Nearly 20% of UK GDP is reliant on satellite services, which are essential for supporting daily life, including through communication, money transfers, navigation, emergency services, and weather forecasting.
Satellites are also critical to defence, providing capabilities such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and providing instant communications to military platforms.
The new sensors are being developed by the UK Space Command (UKSC), which is a joint command of the British Armed Forces, and the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the Government body responsible for the country’s civil space programme.
The project is backed by around £500,000 of funding – the first allocated as part of the UKSA’s Unlocking Space for Government programme, which aims to harness space to improve UK public services and strengthen national security.
“Space is a hugely important and contested frontline and satellites play a vital role in UK prosperity and security. They are crucial to our everyday lives and provide a critical capability for our Armed Forces. It is essential they are protected,” said Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard.
“Today’s announcement shows our commitment to defend British assets in orbit – which protect us on the ground, in the air and at sea. This supports our national security, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.”
