The House Opinion Article | Space is the sovereignty we can’t afford to ignore

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The UK space sector is currently worth around £18.6bn to the economy, supporting more than 55,000 jobs directly. It continues to grow, innovate, and punch well above its weight on the global stage.

But we mustn’t undervalue space, not just for innovation, but in a defence context. As Paul Tedman, the outgoing Commander of UK Space Command, has put it: “Space literally fuels our way of life and underpins our way of war.”

In the opening hours of a conflict, as our adversaries continue to upgrade their anti-satellite technology, a Russian or Chinese attack on NATO’s satellites could be catastrophic. By knocking out our systems in orbit, troops could be paralysed before they reach the battlefield, ships left drifting, planes grounded instantly.

Space is no longer a benign backdrop to events on Earth. It is a contested domain that rivals are already attempting to control. We’ve watched the steady rise of close-approach manoeuvres and so-called “inspection” satellites designed to shadow, nudge, or disable another spacecraft. Heads of the military have warned publicly that Russia is stalking British satellites, and that UK assets face jamming attempts weekly.

That is precisely why the government’s decision to bring the Borealis space domain awareness system into service, six months ahead of schedule, matters. Built on a £65m contract and tracking objects from debris to adversary satellites in real time, it is an example of what sovereign investment in space can deliver. It will not be the last capability we need.

We already have a world-leading space capability and industrial base. The government has committed to a next-generation MilSatCom constellation: our Skynet programme will remain the hardened geostationary capability that has been the backbone of our Armed Forces for decades. Skynet 6A – designed, built and tested end-to-end in the UK – will provide secure, global communications for our forces later this decade, and already supports operations for NATO partners and allied governments across the world. Sovereign UK capability is not a niche offering; it is the backbone of allied communications.

We have already seen the risks of relying on systems we do not control. In Ukraine, satellite communications provided by a private foreign company became core battlefield infrastructure, used for drone operations and command and control. The consequences have been grave, and there have been instances where access was limited in key areas, with real effects on ground-based operations. When capability sits with a foreign provider, even an ally, access can never be fully guaranteed.

The global space economy is expected to be worth around $1 trillion by 2030. The UK has long sought to increase its share. To get there, we need to back where Britain already leads. We are not going to outspend the United States or China, but we do not need to. The UK is already a world leader in military satellite communications, space services, and the research and development driving the next generation of space technologies.

Too often in the past, Britain has failed to support its own capabilities. Investing in space means backing thousands of secure, skilled jobs in hubs like Stevenage, rather than chasing speculative promises that can be turned off as quickly as they are turned on. Get it right, and we create economic growth and train the next generation of engineers here at home. Get it wrong, and the industries that will define our future move elsewhere.

The choice is clear: back British capability, invest in our sovereign strength, and build the future here. Across the UK, from established hubs like Stevenage to our growing supply chains, the foundation is already there.

Kevin Bonavia is Labour MP for Stevenage