Third time lucky for National Space Strategy
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured with the LauncherOne rocket from Virgin Orbit. (Photo: 10 Downing Street)
Following two delayed publication dates, the UK has finally released its National Space Strategy.
The UK government launched its much-anticipated (but twice-delayed) National Space Strategy (NSS) on 27 September.
This new vision aims to help grow a multibillion-pound space industry in the UK, boost private investment and capitalise on UK strengths such as satellite manufacturing.
The aim is to bring together civil and defence space activities to combat emerging international threats such as cyber-attacks and anti-satellite missiles, as well as to protect UK interests at home and abroad.
A Defence Space Strategy is to be published, which the UK government stated will ‘integrate current and planned capability management activities’.
Defence-related UK space investment will include about £5 billion ($6.85 billion) over the next decade to enhance SATCOM (mainly via Skynet 6) and a further £1.4 billion to acquire and develop new technologies in space domain awareness, C2, ISR and other new capabilities.
Industry reacted positively to the NSS launch. Alex Zino, EVP Business Development and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce Defence, said the company is looking forward ‘to working collaboratively with the UK government and our wider industry partners to progress this long-term vision’.
Building on the establishment of the UK-Australia Space Bridge earlier in 2021, the NSS also seeks to establish new trade partnerships with global space allies.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Teledyne FLIR adds GPS-denied 3D-mapping capabilities to its CBRN uncrewed platforms]()
Teledyne FLIR adds GPS-denied 3D-mapping capabilities to its CBRN uncrewed platforms
In a partnership with Emesent, Teledyne FLIR will equip its autonomous air, ground and detection systems with the Hovermap LiDAR payload in a move that highlights a broader market shift towards modular architectures, shared payloads and interoperability across platforms.
-
![US seeks 32% boost for missile defence budget with $23 billion earmarked for interceptors]()
US seeks 32% boost for missile defence budget with $23 billion earmarked for interceptors
The Pentagon’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes an impressive increase in the procurement of interceptors, with the number of the US Army’s PAC-3 MSE rounds expanding by 683%, the US Navy’s Standard Missile by 365% and the MDA’s SM-3 IIA by more than 1,000%.
-
![US Army partners with Global Military Products to surge munitions production]()
US Army partners with Global Military Products to surge munitions production
Global Military Products was selected by the US Army to operate the Quad Cities Cartridge Case Facility and ramp up the production of various calibre shell cases.
-
![Growing a digital backbone: an essential capability for the multi-domain battlespace]()
Growing a digital backbone: an essential capability for the multi-domain battlespace
Future operational superiority will be defined by the ability to connect systems, data and personnel into a wider network. For armed forces, this creates the need for a digital backbone that integrates and enhances sensors and effectors of all kinds.
-
![Estonia opts for smart, adaptable and cooperative solutions in the face of Russian threat]()
Estonia opts for smart, adaptable and cooperative solutions in the face of Russian threat
Estonian-made equipment is being put through the toughest of evaluations in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers resisting the full-scale Russian invasion which began in 2022. The country has long seen the threat and is continuing to adapt for the future.
