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Rethinking Britain’s defence space posture

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Executive summary

  • The new United States (US) Space Force doctrine signals a fundamental conceptual shift from defence to offence in military space affairs. It recognises space as a warfighting domain, positioning the Space Force as a combat service and space control as a primary objective.
  • The decision of the administration of Donald Trump, President of the US, to pursue space-to-Earth strike weapons as a matter of policy, through the Golden Dome, will be transformational for the evolution of warfare.
  • The United Kingdom (UK) should adjust its own doctrine and posture to remain in step with the US, and should contribute to elements of the Golden Dome. It should also focus more on counterspace and strategic space warfare systems.

Disclaimer

This publication should not be considered in any way to constitute advice. It is for knowledge and educational purposes only. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council on Geostrategy or the views of its Advisory Council.

Image credit: Image generated using Artificial Intelligence, inspired by RAF Fylingdales Radar, 2012, Cherubino, CC 3.0

No. 2025/12 | ISBN: 978-1-917893-03-9

Gabriel Elefteriu FRAeS is a Senior Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, where his research focuses on defence space policy and strategy, and the global space power balance. Having also served as Deputy Director at the Council on Geostrategy, he was previously Director of Research and Strategy and member of the Senior Management Team at Policy Exchange, which he first joined in 2014 and where he also founded and directed the first dedicated Space Policy Research Unit in the United Kingdom. Gabriel is also an Associate of King’s College, London, an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a founding partner at AstroAnalytica, a space consultancy. He holds a BA in War Studies (first class) and an MA in Intelligence and International Security (Distinction), both from King’s College, London.