UK Space Command

Its Importance, Impact and Urgent Need for Progress

by Brigadier Chris Fogarty

In this edition we have a few articles from R SIGNALS personnel who have recently served within UK Space Command. The domains of Cyber Electromagnetic (EM) and Space are proving critical to modern operations, be those in Ukraine or the Middle East. RSI members have recently received several presentations and briefs about Cyber and EM, however space has been underrepresented despite its increasing importance as not just an enabler for modern warfighting but being a warfighting domain in and of itself that a force will attempt to use for military effect. Therefore, these articles are a timely reminder of the importance of space and the role of the Corps within this vital domain. Although there is a lot of excitement around the Artemis II mission, until we have lunar bases and celestial shipping lanes, space will continue to service the demands of Earth users. In practice that means space is all about data. There are thousands of satellites sending data about the Earth (be that electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture, radio frequency collection) to users through the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS). Due to their critical role in intelligence gathering, communications, and disruption capabilities, Cyber EM and Space will remain areas of significant advantage to warfare for the foreseeable future.

The first article provides a background to the space domain and our reliance upon the EMS. It also questions what role the R SIGNALS has in modern warfare to provide a bit of provocation. The next article highlights the continued importance of interoperability, to ensure we are match fit and able to operate within a NATO framework. The third article reviews how Artificial Intelligence is impacting the space domain. The final article comments upon electronic warfare from a space perspective. This is often termed as Space Control and is becoming a staple of modern operations, contributing to space superiority. Recently the Commander of US Central Command, Admiral Bradley Cooper highlighted “Our space superiority has been a critical enabler to this fight. Our space force is doing two things, firstly degrading Iranian capabilities and secondly, they are helping to protect US forces.”

Link to articles.