Russia targets British military satellites on a weekly basis

Russian satellites track British military satellites, according to the head of the British space command.

In an interview with the BBC, Major-General Paul Tedman for the first time established the level of interference of Moscow against the space assets of the United Kingdom.

He said Russia also tried to muddle military satellites from the United Kingdom with ground systems every week.

Last month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Russia observed satellites used by their soldiers.

General Tedman has given details on how Russia did the same in the United Kingdom. “They are interested in what we do and fly relatively close,” he said.

“They have useful on board charges that can see our satellites and try to collect information at home.”

General Tedman said that the British military satellites had been equipped with counter-jaunage technologies, but added: “We see our satellites blocked by the Russians on a reasonably persistent basis.”

When he was asked how often he replied “weekly”. It is, he said, deliberated and the activity had increased since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine Russia. Great Britain has half a dozen military satellites devoted to orbit providing communications and surveillance.

On the other hand, the United States, China and Russia each have more than a hundred. The combined fleet of Russian and Chinese satellites has increased 70% over the past decade.

General Tedman said Russia and China have both tested anti-satellite weapons. The United Kingdom and the United States have warned that Russia has developed the ability to put nuclear weapons in space.

While the United States considers China as the threat of rhythm, General Tedman considers Russia as the most immediate danger: “I would say that the Chinese have by far the most sophisticated capacity, but the Russians have more willingness to use their counter-space systems.”

General Tedman said he was “really worried” about what was going on in space – not just threats but growing congestion. There are currently around 45,000 orbit objects, including around 9,000 satellites. This year will see 300 other rocket launches in space.

The general spoke during a visit to Raf Fylingdales in the North Yorkshire. It houses the early system of ballistic missiles in Great Britain and America. It is a job they have been doing since 1963.

The three large radomes or famous “golf balls” in the era of the Cold War were replaced by a pyramid of 30 meters (98 feet) which houses thousands of antennas.

It seems that a spacecraft landed on the Landes of the North Yorkshire, surrounded by sheep, an electrified perimeter fence and a razor wire.

The non -flashing eye offers 360 -degree coverage from the Arctic to North Africa and the Mediterranean at the Atlantic. Its radar can follow objects the size of a cans, 3,000 miles (4,800 km) in space.

Inside, heavy breaths and air locks tell you that hers could also be a target for any opponent. In the operations room, British military staff look 24 hours a day every day of the year.

The 2nd space alert squadron of the RAF brings us through the exercise of how they detect a launch of missiles. They are connected to other American satellites and sensors that allow them to detect a launch all over the world.

General Tedman calls space “a team sport” but, in reality, the United Kingdom depends strongly on America. The United States is responsible for radar maintenance with the support of British entrepreneurs.

The British officer in charge of the watch says with other sources “We would know that the United Kingdom was probably threatened in a minute.”

What is less mentioned is the ability of the United Kingdom to intercept ballistic missiles. Currently, the United Kingdom has very little ballistic anti-missile defense.

The British government promises to invest more in space and anti -missile defense. He also takes measures to defend his satellites. This week, he announces that he will test sensors to detect laser threats in space.

China and Russia have developed lasers that could be used to dazzle and disturb the satellites of an opponent.

General Tedman said: “We are committed to investing a billion pounds in an integrated air and anti-missile defense, and I would be surprised if there is no spatial aspect in the way we will defend the United Kingdom against threats very similar to the Dome (American).”

He was referring to President Donald Trump’s plan to build a shield in the United States against any missile attack.

However, the United Kingdom risks being left in the space race. Currently, it spends about 1% of its defense budget on space. On the other hand, France spends about 3% and the United States 5%.

Gen Tedman would like to see space given a higher priority. He says that around 450 billion sterling pounds in the British economy depend on space. It is also the nervous system on which the armed forces of the United Kingdom are increasingly dependent – on navigation to precision strikes.

Before leaving Raf Fylingdals, there is another reminder why space is so important.

We are notified that we will have to leave the operations room in the event of a real incident. While we turn another alert on the launch of a ballistic missile and we are quickly escorted at the exit.

They observe short -range ballistic missile launches almost every day. In this incident, they will not say where, but it is no secret that Russia regularly derives them in Ukraine.

In 2024, more than 4,000 missiles were dismissed worldwide. Russia was the reason why Flyingdals was created for the first time in the era of the Cold War. The threat has not disappeared.