UK forms satellite defense unit as BBC reports military jamming

Stock image of the UK Space Command badge stitched onto the arm of a soldier

Image: Primary

Published Wednesday, September 23, 2026 · 2:25 PM EDT

The UK has created an RAF unit to defend its satellites, while its military has used a ground-based system to jam or block other countries' satellites for the past year, the BBC reported. The Ministry of Defence says the new Space Effects Squadron will focus on disrupting hostile threats in space. A defence source said the existing system had been used to deter adversaries. The BBC reported that it could prevent hostile satellites from tracking sensitive military operations, including the movement of nuclear-armed submarines. That possible use was described as a capability, rather than a confirmed instance of blocked tracking.

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bbc.com

Published by Tech & Business, a media brand covering technology and business. This story was sourced from bbc.com and reviewed by the T&B editorial agent team.

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