Russia is systematically interfering with British military satellites, carrying out weekly jamming attempts and orbital maneuvers designed to shadow UK spacecraft, according to the head of Space Command. Major General Paul Tedman, speaking in a rare interview, explained that Russian satellites have been flying dangerously close to British assets in orbit, monitoring them and attempting to collect intelligence. He said these satellites are equipped with payloads that allow them to observe and track UK spacecraft, such as Tyche, the Ministry of Defence’s first wholly owned Earth observation satellite launched last year on a SpaceX rocket. Alongside this, Moscow has been using ground-based systems to jam British satellites on a consistent, deliberate basis.
While the UK has fitted its satellites with counter-jamming technology, Tedman said interference has not stopped, stressing that these hostile actions are part of Russia’s wider campaign of aggression that intensified after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He described the weekly attempts as a reminder that space is becoming an increasingly contested and hostile environment. Britain currently operates only around six dedicated military satellites, while Russia, China, and the United States each maintain more than a hundred. Over the past decade, the combined Russian and Chinese satellite fleet has grown by 70 percent, underlining the imbalance in scale and resources.
Both Moscow and Beijing have tested anti-satellite weapons and developed directed-energy technologies such as lasers that could dazzle or disable spacecraft. Intelligence reports suggest Russia is also working on nuclear-based systems designed for space, a development that would threaten satellites globally and could severely destabilize the strategic balance. Tedman acknowledged that China has more advanced space capabilities, but he warned that Russia shows greater willingness to use its counter-space tools in practice.
The interview was conducted at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, the site of Britain’s ballistic missile early warning system, which has been jointly operated with the United States since the Cold War. The iconic base, once known for its huge radar domes, now features a giant pyramid-shaped structure housing thousands of antennas. From there, military personnel track tens of thousands of objects in orbit and monitor for missile launches, often detecting activity within a minute. Fylingdales provides 360-degree coverage stretching from the Arctic to North Africa and remains a critical node in the alliance’s defence network. However, Britain currently has little in the way of actual missile interception capability, leaving it heavily reliant on early warning and American support.
Tedman expressed concern about the growing congestion in orbit, where about 45,000 objects, including 9,000 satellites, are already present. With an additional 300 rocket launches scheduled this year alone, the risk of collisions and space debris is climbing rapidly. He argued that space is no longer an uncontested environment but one that is crowded, vulnerable, and increasingly militarized. The situation highlights the growing importance of satellite defence for both military and civilian systems.
Despite this, Britain’s investment in space lags behind its allies. Only one percent of the UK defence budget is devoted to space programmes, compared with around three percent in France and five percent in the United States. Tedman emphasized that nearly half a trillion pounds of the UK’s economy depends on space infrastructure, alongside the operational effectiveness of the armed forces. Navigation, communication, and precision weaponry all rely on secure satellites, making them central to national security. The government has promised to invest £1 billion in integrated air and missile defence, including measures to protect satellites from laser threats, but experts warn that current spending is insufficient to keep pace with rivals.
The legacy of Fylingdales itself illustrates how little the threat has changed since the Cold War. Originally built to monitor Soviet missile launches, it continues to watch over Russian activity today. With Moscow firing thousands of missiles during the war in Ukraine and now challenging Western powers in orbit, the contest has simply moved to a new frontier. Tedman described space as a “team sport,” stressing that the UK cannot defend itself without the support of allies, especially the United States. Yet he also argued that Britain must prioritize greater independence and resilience to avoid being left behind in what is rapidly becoming a global space race.
The general concluded with a warning that space is the new frontline of modern defence. Russia’s persistent attempts to jam and stalk UK satellites are not isolated incidents but part of a deliberate strategy to undermine British and allied capabilities. As more countries weaponize space and the risks of congestion and conflict grow, the UK faces a stark choice: invest more heavily in space security or risk losing its ability to defend both its military operations and its wider economy.