The United Kingdom is establishing a new military unit focused on the protection of satellites and space-based assets critical to national security and everyday services. The No III Space Effects Squadron, to be announced on Wednesday, will operate under the Royal Air Force (RAF) and is intended to counter hostile activities in space, while potentially supporting both defensive and offensive operations.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the strategic importance of space in modern defense during his remarks at the Space Power conference in London. He drew comparisons to historical military dominance, noting that controlling space will be as essential in the 21st century as control of the seas and skies were in previous centuries. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the new squadron will protect satellites that provide missile warning systems, communications, and navigation support, including for maritime operations.

The No III Space Effects Squadron will integrate specialist personnel from various branches of the armed forces and employ advanced technologies, such as electronic warfare, to disrupt or degrade hostile actions targeting British satellites. This unit will complement two existing RAF squadrons—No I Space Operations Squadron and No II Space Warning Squadron—which currently monitor space threats and provide early warnings.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, underscored the evolving nature of space as a domain of direct military competition, stating that control in this domain could determine operational advantages or losses. The United Kingdom has clarified that it will not engage in destructive anti-satellite missile testing and intends to uphold norms for responsible behavior in space through continued work with the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The announcement comes amid increasing concerns over space militarization globally. UK Space Command has reported attempts by Russia to interfere with British military satellites, including jamming efforts. The United States, which created the U.S. Space Force in 2019, recently confirmed it had deployed weapons in space for the first time. This move prompted warnings from China’s foreign ministry against militarizing space and transforming it into a new battlefield.

The formation of the No III Space Effects Squadron follows the UK government’s recent release of a broader space strategy aimed at bolstering national defenses against emerging threats in orbit. The initiative reflects growing recognition of space as a vital domain for national security, with implications for defense, communication, and global stability.