United Kingdom Space Command Explained

Unit Name:United Kingdom Space Command
Start Date:1 April 2021
Branch:

Role:Space Operations
Command Structure:Royal Air Force
Garrison:RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Commander1:Major General Paul Tedman
Commander1 Label:Commander

United Kingdom Space Command (UKSC) is a joint command of the British Armed Forces organised under the Royal Air Force,[1] [2] and staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and the Civil Service.[3] The UKSC has three functions: space operations, space workforce generation, and space capability.[4]

UK Space Command was established on 1 April 2021, and from May 2024 is under the command of Major General Paul Tedman. The new command has "responsibility for not just operations, but also generating, training and growing the force, and also owning the money and putting all the programmatic rigour into delivering new ... capabilities." UKSC headquarters is at RAF High Wycombe co-located with Air Command.[5]

When fully operationally capable, UK Space Command will "provide command and control of all of Defence’s space capabilities, including [the] UK Space Operations Centre, Skynet (satellite) communications, RAF Fylingdales, and other enabling capabilities."The command was initially planned to grow to about 650 personnel.[6]

Defence Command Paper and Space Strategy

In a March 2021 Defence Command Paper it was announced that part of the additional £1.4 billion allocated to support UK Space Command over the next decade would be used to develop a new Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite capability,[7] [8] following on from the Carbonite-2 technology demonstrator launched in 2018.[9]

History

On 22 April 2021 it was announced that Air Commodore Mark Flewin was to become Head Operations, Plans & Training, United Kingdom Space Command, Royal Air Force High Wycombe in May 2021.[10]

As of 2021 Commodore David C. Moody (Engineering Branch, RN) was posted in as Head of Space Capability for UK Space Command.

In February 2022, the first part of the Defence Space Strategy was published, which included the already announced extra investment of £1.4 billion over 10 years mostly for the development of the multi-satellite surveillance and intelligence ISTARI system.[11] The strategy announced that the UK would adopt an "international by design" approach, and is the first state to publicly join the U.S. led Operation Olympic Defender, enabling international sharing of space resources and the synchronisation of space efforts. The UK will strengthen relations with the Five Eyes intelligence partnership.[12]

Operational concept demonstrator satellites for the ISTARI system, with electro-optical sensors and onboard processing, are planned for launch in 2024, under project MINERVA.[13]

Structure

The structure of UK Space Command comprises:

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Q&A: Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth talks UK Space Command. 23 February 2021 . Airforce Technology. 28 April 2021.
  2. Web site: A British Space Force? 'Never Say Never,' Says UK General. Oriana. Pawlyk. May 6, 2021. Military.com.
  3. Web site: UK Space Command . Ministry of Defence . 1 April 2021 . 23 June 2021.
  4. Web site: Air Commodore Paul Godfrey announced as Commander United Kingdom Space Command . Royal Air Force . 23 June 2021 . en-gb . 1 February 2021.
  5. News: UK Space Command at RAF High Wycombe - Air Commodore Paul Godfrey to lead. 2 February 2021. Bucks Free Press. 28 April 2021.
  6. Web site: UK Space Command: Staff. TheyWorkForYou.
  7. Defence in a competitive age . CP 411 . Ministry of Defence . 44–45 . March 2021 . 8 July 2021.
  8. News: The U.K. Defense Command Paper in Review . Darling . Daniel . Defense & Security Monitor . Forecast International . 26 March 2021 . 8 July 2021.
  9. News: Royal Air Force surveillance satellite launched into space . Allison . George . UK Defence Journal . 1 March 2018 . 2 March 2018.
  10. Web site: Senior Appointments . . 13 November 2020 . raf.mod.uk . Royal Air Force . 13 November 2020 .
  11. UK cutting-edge space defence backed by £1.4 billion . Ministry of Defence . gov.uk . 1 February 2022 . 14 July 2022.
  12. Book: Defence Space Strategy: Operationalising the Space Domain . Ministry of Defence . February 2022 . 978-1-5286-2899-0 . 14 July 2022.
  13. News: Defence Space 2022: UK Space Command details future plans . Savage . Olivia . IHS . Jane's . 11 May 2022 . 14 July 2022.
  14. Web site: 2024-02-01 . UK Space Command . 2024-07-08 . GOV.UK . en.
  15. Web site: About us . 2024-07-08 . GOV.UK . en.
  16. Web site: 2023-12-13 . Two UK Space Command units to be rewarded with squadron status . 2024-07-08 . www.forces.net . en.
  17. Web site: 2023-11-23 . UK Space Academy to join forces with Defence Academy . 2024-07-08 . www.forces.net . en.