Executive summary
- The UK needs to compete in space so it can utilise its weapons systems effectively and secure military advantage.
- As both allies and adversaries are expanding their military space programmes, Britain needs to keep up if it wants to remain competitive in this strategic arena and retain the ability to deter and respond to aggression in the future.
- The rapid progress in space technology could leave Britain exposed to strategic surprise. Therefore, the country should remain at the forefront of space innovation and have enough expertise and industrial capacity to respond quickly to major changes.
- Relying heavily on allies such as the United States (US) in the space domain is increasingly fraught with risk, as their space forces could also struggle in a crisis; more focus on UK national defence space capabilities is therefore required.
This Primer is part of the Council on Geostrategy’s Strategic Advantage Cell.
About the author
Gabriel Elefteriu FRAeS is Deputy Director at the Council on Geostrategy, where his research focuses on defence and space policy. Gabriel also leads the Strategic Advantage Cell. Previously he was Director of Research and Strategy and member of the Senior Management Team at Policy Exchange, 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.
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: Deployed Reacher detachment, Sergeant Paul Shaw, Ministy of Defence © Crown copyright 2023
No. 2024/34 | ISBN: 978-1-914441-86-8