According to a report by The Guardian on September 23, the British Ministry of Defence announced today that a new ‘No III Space Effects Squadron’ will be established within the British Air Force. This squadron will be responsible for protecting British satellites used for communication and early warning missile attacks.
British Defense Secretary Weas Streeting stated at a meeting: "Controlling the oceans was the key to deterrence in the 19th century. That’s why Britain built a powerful navy at that time. The key in the 20th century is air superiority, so we have established an excellent air force to protect us. The success or failure of this century will depend on our control over space."
British Air Force Chief of Staff and Air Force General Haff Smith said: "Space is no longer a field where we can sit by idly. It is a field of direct competition. We may gain military advantages here, or we may lose them."
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that this new air force squadron will consist of professionals from various departments of the British Armed Forces, aimed at responding to 'hostile activities in orbit'. Its primary role is to protect British satellites used for communication and early warning against missile attacks.
The British Air Force has previously established the 'First Space Operations Squadron' and the 'Second Space Early Warning Squadron', which carry out tasks related to 'monitoring and warning' of space threats. According to the British Ministry of Defence's plan, the newly established 'Third Space Effect Squadron' will use technologies such as electronic warfare to take action against space threats, aiming to 'interfere with, weaken, and prevent hostile actions'.
The British government released an updated version of its “British Space Strategy” earlier this month, proposing what it calls “space control requirements”. This means that the UK must “maintain the freedom to operate in space and prevent adversaries from having the same freedom to act”.
The Guardian reported that the UK has officially ruled out the possibility of conducting destructive anti-satellite missile tests. On the 23rd, the British government stated that it would continue to promote “responsible space behavior norms, rules, and principles” through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
