Space may seem quiet from Earth, but above our heads, a very different reality is unfolding. British military officials say their satellites are being interfered with every single week—and Russia is the main suspect. These close encounters in orbit are causing growing concern among defense leaders and sparking fresh warnings about the future of space security.
General Paul Tedman, who leads the UK’s space command, recently revealed in a BBC interview that Russia routinely attempts to disrupt Britain’s six military satellites. These intrusions involve Russian spacecraft equipped with offensive payloads that can jam communications and monitor satellite behavior—sometimes at distances uncomfortably close to UK systems.
A quiet war in orbit
The new battlefield is no longer just land, sea, and air—now it’s above the atmosphere. Satellites, whether military or civilian, are vulnerable targets in this emerging realm of satellite warfare. Their disruption could throw communications, navigation systems, and even financial networks into chaos.
To counter this, nations with space ambitions have launched their own specialized military units—like the U.S. Space Force or France’s Space Command. And with rising threats from both Russia and China, the UK is taking notice.
General Tedman didn’t mince words: these incidents are frequent, calculated, and escalating. He added that ground-based systems are also being used to jam the same six UK satellites, suggesting a broad, coordinated effort to weaken Britain’s presence in orbit.
Why civilians should care
This isn’t just a military issue. Civilian satellites can be used for military purposes—something clearly demonstrated in Ukraine, where the Starlink satellite network has played a key role in communications. That dual-use nature makes all satellites potential targets.
And that puts the economy at risk too. According to Tedman, space powers nearly £450 billion of the UK economy—that’s nearly 20% of its GDP. Everything from GPS to money transfers to weather forecasting relies on functional, secure satellites.
Building defenses against new threats
In response, the UK Ministry of Defence is developing new tech to detect and counter threats. These include laser detection systems to identify ground- or space-based weapons that could blind or intercept communications. It’s a high-tech arms race playing out far above Earth’s surface.
Tedman also pointed to China as a growing concern. While Russia is more visibly aggressive, China’s tools are more sophisticated—and that’s worrying for U.S. and UK defense analysts. Even if Beijing isn’t using them regularly, the capability is there, and the threat is very real.
A new frontier of global tension
This latest wave of satellite interference is a clear signal that space is no longer just a domain for science and exploration—it’s a contested arena of global power. With jamming incidents happening weekly, and both civilian and military systems at risk, nations are racing to defend their assets in the final frontier.
And while many of these maneuvers go unnoticed by the public, defense officials are watching closely. Because what happens in orbit doesn’t stay in orbit—it has serious consequences back here on Earth.
Sylvain Biget
Journalist
From journalism to tech expertise
Sylvain Biget is a journalist driven by a fascination for technological progress and the digital world’s impact on society. A graduate of the École Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris, he quickly steered his career toward media outlets specializing in high-tech. Holder of a private-pilot licence and certified professional drone operator, he blends his passion for aviation with deep expertise in tech reporting.
A key member of Futura’s editorial team
As a technology journalist and editor at Futura, Sylvain covers a wide spectrum of topics—cybersecurity, the rise of electric vehicles, drones, space science and emerging technologies. Every day he strives to keep Futura’s readers up to date on current tech developments and to explore the many facets of tomorrow’s world. His keen interest in the advent of artificial intelligence enables him to cast a distinctive light on the challenges of this technological revolution.
