Russia Jams British Military Satellites Every Week

Russian military satellites are shadowing British spacecraft, according to Major General Paul Tedman, head of UK Space Command. In an interview with the BBC, he for the first time described in detail the scale of Russia’s interference with British orbital systems. He said Russia attempts weekly to jam UK military satellites using ground-based systems. Last month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reported that Moscow was taking similar action against German military satellites.

Tedman confirmed that British satellites face the same activity. “They are interested in what we are doing and fly relatively close,” he noted. “Their spacecraft carry payloads that allow them to observe our satellites and collect data from them.” According to him, UK military satellites are equipped with anti-jamming measures, yet “the Russians continue to jam our assets with noticeable regularity.” Asked how often, he replied: “Weekly.” He emphasized that these were deliberate actions that have intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The UK currently operates about six dedicated military satellites for communications and intelligence. By comparison, the U.S., China, and Russia each have over a hundred, and the joint Russian-Chinese constellation has grown by 70% over the past decade. Tedman noted that both Russia and China have already tested anti-satellite weapons. London and Washington warn that Moscow is developing the capacity to place nuclear weapons in space. While the U.S. identifies China as the main challenge, Tedman sees Russia as the more immediate threat: “The Chinese have far more sophisticated technology, but the Russians are more determined to use their counter-space capabilities.” The general admitted he is “seriously concerned” about the situation in orbit, not only because of threats but also because of rising congestion: around 45,000 objects are currently in orbit, including some 9,000 satellites. Another 300 rocket launches are scheduled for 2024.

The interview was given during General Tedman’s visit to the UK’s RAF Fylingdales base in North Yorkshire, home since 1963 to the Anglo-American ballistic missile early-warning system. The iconic Cold War–era “golf balls” have been replaced by a 30-meter-high pyramid housing thousands of antennas. From the outside it resembles a spacecraft landed among sheep, electrified fences, and barbed wire. The radar provides 360-degree coverage from the Arctic to North Africa and from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, tracking objects in space as small as a tin can at distances up to 4,800 km. Heavy blast doors and airlocks inside underscore that the station itself could become a target. In the operations hall, British personnel maintain a round-the-clock watch.

Members of the RAF’s No. 2 Space Warning Squadron demonstrate how missile launches are detected. Their system is linked to U.S. satellites and sensors capable of identifying launches anywhere in the world. Tedman calls space “a team sport,” but in practice the UK is heavily reliant on the U.S.: American contractors maintain the Fylingdales radar. An officer on duty insists that, drawing on additional sources, “we would know of a threat to the UK in roughly one minute.” Far less is said about the country’s own ability to intercept ballistic missiles—which, at present, remains extremely limited.

The UK government has pledged to boost investment in space programs, missile defense, and satellite protection. This week it will announce the testing of sensors capable of detecting laser threats in orbit. Both China and Russia have already developed lasers able to blind or disable enemy satellites. “We have allocated £1 billion for integrated air and missile defense, and I would be surprised if it didn’t include a space component to shield the UK from threats—something like the American ‘Golden Dome,’” Tedman noted, referring to Donald Trump’s plans to build a missile shield around the United States.

Yet Britain risks falling behind in the space race. At present it spends about 1% of its defense budget on space, compared with roughly 3% in France and 5% in the United States. The general argues the sector needs greater priority: some £450 billion of the UK economy depends on space, and military infrastructure is increasingly reliant on it too—from navigation to precision strikes.

Before leaving the base we get another reminder of why space matters. We are warned that in the event of a real incident we would have to evacuate the operations room. During filming a new alert comes in about a ballistic missile launch, and we are swiftly escorted out. Such short-range launches are detected almost daily. The source of this particular launch is not disclosed, but it is no secret that Russia regularly uses such missiles against Ukraine. In 2024 alone, more than 4,000 launches took place worldwide. Fylingdales was built in the Cold War precisely because of the Russian threat. That threat has not disappeared.