Russia constantly jams UK military satellites and more: What is known
Russia consistently jams military satellites of European countries (photo: Getty Images)
Russia is constantly monitoring British military satellites in space and attempting to collect information from them, according to Major General Paul Tedman, the head of the UK Space Command, as reported by the BBC.
According to him, Russia has attempted to jam British military satellites every week using ground-based systems.
"They've got payloads on board that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them," Tedman said.
He added that British military satellites were equipped with anti-jamming technologies, but "satellites being jammed by the Russians on a reasonably persistent basis."
When asked how often this occurs, the general replied that it happens weekly.
According to him, this was deliberate, and the activity intensified after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia and China have tested anti-satellite weapons
Tedman stated that Russia and China have tested anti-satellite weapons. Both the UK and the US have warned that Moscow is developing the capability to deploy nuclear weapons in space.
While the US considers China the primary threat, General Tedman views Russia as a more immediate danger.
"I would say the Chinese have by far the more sophisticated capability, but the Russians have more will to use their counter-space systems," the head of the Space Command concluded.
General Tedman also noted his concern about the situation in space — not only the threats but also the growth and concentration of space assets.
Currently, there are about 45,000 objects in orbit, including around 9,000 satellites. Another 300 rockets are expected to be launched into space this year.
In September, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reported that Russia had monitored two Intelsat satellites used by the German military.
"They can jam, blind, manipulate, or kinetically disrupt satellites," he said at a space conference in Berlin.
The UK is already involved in operations against Russia at Washington's request, specifically in providing intelligence to Kyiv.
Russia had prepared sabotage operations around the British Isles, with a Russian vessel spying on Europe's underwater vessels.
