New sensors to counter laser threats from hostile states
Britain’s most vital satellites are set to receive high-tech protection under a new Ministry of Defence (MoD) and UK Space Agency (UKSA) programme designed to guard against laser attacks from foreign adversaries.
Protecting the backbone of Britain’s economy
The government has announced a £500,000 investment in advanced detection sensors capable of identifying and analysing lasers aimed at UK military and civilian satellites.
These lasers can be used to track, blind, or disrupt orbiting systems that underpin everything from bank transfers and navigation to defence intelligence and emergency communications.
With one-fifth of the UK economy now dependent on satellite services, officials say the project is critical to protecting Britain’s prosperity and national security.
“Space is a hugely important and contested frontline,” said Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP.
“Satellites are vital to our daily lives and essential for the Armed Forces. It is crucial they are protected.”
New technology for a new kind of warfare
The sensors, being developed jointly by UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency, will detect and characterise lasers launched from space or the ground. They will help determine whether a satellite is being targeted and enable the military to respond swiftly to protect UK and allied assets.
The funding marks the first allocation under UKSA’s ‘Unlocking Space for Government’ programme – part of the wider Plan for Change, which seeks to strengthen security and drive economic growth through innovation.
Major General Paul Tedman, Commander of UK Space Command, said the project underscored the UK’s shift toward treating space as a core domain of modern defence.
“Space does not just accessorise our way of war – in many respects it is changing it fundamentally,” he said.
Investment in innovation and jobs
The announcement follows the Strategic Defence Review, which elevated space security to the same level of priority as land, sea, and air defence.
The UK’s aerospace and defence sectors now contribute over £42 billion to the economy – up 64% in the past decade – and employ 443,000 people nationwide. The new investment is expected to support further innovation in high-tech manufacturing and defence engineering.
Harshbir Sangha, Director of Missions and Capabilities at the UK Space Agency, said: “By investing in cutting-edge sensor technology, we’re helping ensure the UK remains resilient and ready in an increasingly contested space environment.”
As threats in orbit multiply, Britain’s newest defence frontier is now hundreds of miles above the Earth – ensuring that the satellites powering its economy, communications and security stay firmly in British control.
