Let’s talk about space sovereignty

It’s an uncomfortable truth that although the space domain is key to the UK’s long-term security and prosperity, our current capability is not self-sufficient. And where we are not self-sufficient, we can become vulnerable. 

As the international agenda continues to change, there is an increasing need for us to think about what nationally owned space capabilities we need to protect our sovereignty and that of our friends and allies.

This is about plugging vulnerabilities, future-proofing our way of life, and safe-guarding our security and prosperity. It’s important, and it’s urgent. The intensity and complexity of low-attribution sub-threshold activities is increasing, our adversaries are getting ever-closer to our satellites, and recent conflicts have demonstrated that those who dominate in space, can achieve their objectives faster.

We have access to capability from around the world – so what’s the problem?

It’s all about supporting freedom of action. If we came to a war-footing, we must ask ourselves if we are happy with the degree of control we have over the space technology that we are reliant on.

So, what sovereign capabilities do we need, and how sovereign do they really need to be? Opinions differ across the sector, but for me it’s about having control and ownership of secure comms capabilities, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) technology, and effectors. These are the three essentials in the toolkit for decision advantage in space. If we were, for any reason, denied access to these, we’d have problems, so wouldn’t it be best to hone and manage these essential tools ourselves?

Supporting prosperity as well as security

The space sovereignty question isn’t just about being prepared for whatever volatile geopolitics come our way, it’s also about being able to secure our future prosperity. So much of our day-to-day lives depend on space. In fact, space technology is part of our Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), and the UK could lose millions of pounds per day if the capabilities that we are reliant on went down.

Building sovereign space technology here in the UK benefits the UK taxpayer in many ways – not just because it can help to secure our freedom of action in space, but also because it can enable our way of life. Of course, there are other benefits too. The space sector has a huge opportunity for growth right now. Let’s encourage R&D and skills development here in the UK, and build healthy supply chains that benefit the whole ecosystem.

How do we get there?

There’s lots of opportunity and much to be done. First and foremost, it’s about seeking alignment from across the space sector on what the sovereign requirements are for the UK’s security and prosperity. These should include critical capabilities from within a healthy UK supply chain.

We are in active conversations with colleagues from academia, government and across industry to understand our critical vulnerabilities, establish our priorities, and build clarity of action, because the more we can be coordinated and proactive, the better.

What are we doing about it?

With its heritage in complex projects and close ties with HMG, BAE Systems is ideally placed to support the UK in its efforts to build truly sovereign skills, capability and supply chains.  We are excited to step up as a UK space prime, supporting government and indeed the whole UK space ecosystem in its ambitions.

Our work has already started – we have just launched our first self-funded cluster of Azalea satellites into low Earth orbit. The cluster features three British designed and built RF satellites, and the ambition is that these will support in the delivery of actionable intelligence directly to decision-makers across land, sea and air in near real time – helping them protect armed forces, safeguard CNI and detect illegal activity at sea.

Over the coming months, we will be trialling a novel fusion of Radio Frequency (RF) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, collaborating with customers to explore a range of use cases including intelligence gathering and supporting disaster relief.

Azalea is a huge step in the right direction, at an exciting and crucial moment for the UK’s space capability. Let’s keep the sovereignty conversation moving and let’s keep the pace up, because the UK can only be resilient and prosperous if our space capability is less reliant on others, and more secure in its own right.

Learn more about the Azalea™ mission and its capabilities

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