Secret Brit plans to fight enemies in space revealed after US confirms it already has weapons in orbit

BRITAIN is gearing up to fight enemies in space with secret weapons as a global arms race heats up. Defence chiefs are developing “offensive capabilities” to counter threats from Russia and China – but exactly what they involve is a closely guarded secret. Nasa image of a laser hitting a satellite Credit: 3DSculptor Britain has unveiled a new Space Strategy Credit: UK MOD Crown copyright The push is revealed in Britain’s new Space Strategy, which says the UK must be able to “deny adversaries” freedom of action in space. Experts say such technology could include jamming enemy satellites, launching cyber attacks or even using lasers to temporarily blind their sensors. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! It comes as the US revealed for the first time it already has “space control weapons” stationed in orbit. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink refused to reveal what the weapons can do amid growing fears over Russia and China’s activities in space. READ MORE ON SPACE WARFARE Former Armed Forces minister Al Carns told The Sun: “Space is the next frontier of war fighting. China is a superpower. America is the same. “We have got to accept that the UK is a middle power.” Russia and China have both tested weapons capable of physically destroying satellites, while Moscow has already used jamming and cyber attacks during its invasion of Ukraine. Dr Mark Hilborne, of King’s College London’s Defence Studies Department, said: “The kind of capabilities the UK could use would be things like electronic warfare and jamming… things like cyber attacks, offensive cyber attacks.” Most read in The Sun He said directed-energy weapons could also be used to “dazzle” satellite sensors and temporarily blind them, with jamming, cyber attacks and directed energy all “achievable” for Britain. And Dr Hilborne warned the impact of an attack on vital satellite services could quickly be felt by ordinary Brits. He said: “Banking, power grids, many many military functions, your Uber driver and the pizza delivery guy – all of them would be undermined by GPS going down.” Space warfare expert Juliana Suess, an Associate Fellow at defence think tank RUSI, said there was “quite a lot to be worried about” from Russian and Chinese activity in space. The US has revealed for the first time it already has ‘space control weapons’ stationed in orbit Credit: Getty Some £880million is being invested over four years in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and Space Control Credit: Ian Whittaker She said disruption to satellite navigation was already an “everyday occurrence” in Ukraine, the Baltics and Eastern Europe, adding: “Especially in the initial stages of a conflict, I think the attempt to deny satellite services is almost guaranteed because it’s something that we’ve already seen.” Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, warned: “Beijing isn’t investing billions in counter-space capabilities for pure research purposes; they are preparing to cripple their adversaries at the push of a button. “The UK is playing catch up and still refuses to recognise the threat.” Britain’s new Space Strategy, published earlier this month, says the UK must be able to “deny adversaries” freedom of action in space, with operations “both defensive and offensive in nature”. By 2035, defence chiefs want a “significantly expanded set of military capabilities in space” – but officials are refusing to reveal what those future capabilities will involve because of security sensitivities. Some £880million is being invested over four years in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and Space Control. An MoD spokesperson said: “From communications, to retail, to banking, Space is vital to our security and prosperity. “We’re working closely with allies to counter growing threats in an increasingly important environment. “Our new space strategy, backed by £7.8 billion, will help strengthen Britain’s defences, protecting the critical space capabilities we rely on every day.” Comment now