UK space chief warns of Russia’s persistent satellite surveillance and jamming efforts

Russia is continuously monitoring British military satellites in space and attempting to gather data from them, according to Major General Paul Tedman, head of the UK Space Command.

Tedman stated that Russia has been attempting weekly jamming of UK military satellites using ground-based systems, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

He added that “They've got payloads on board that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them.”

While British military satellites are equipped with anti-jamming technologies, Tedman noted that “the Russians jam the satellites quite consistently,” with the activity intensifying following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

General also stated that both Russia and China have tested anti-satellite weapons.

Although the US considers China the primary threat, Tedman regards Russia as a more immediate danger, concluding: "I would say the Chinese have by far the more sophisticated capability, but the Russians have more will to use their counter-space systems."

It should be noted that space has become an increasingly contested domain, with military satellites playing a critical role in communications, intelligence, navigation, and missile warning systems.

Experts warn that these activities raise the risk of satellite disruption and debris in orbit, which could impact both military and civilian operations globally.

The intensification of such operations following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine highlights the growing intersection of space security and conventional conflicts on Earth.

By Tamilla Hasanova