UK Space Command

Making space safe, secure and sustainable for all generations.

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Making space safe, secure and sustainable for all generations.

Daily lives around the world rely on satellites and systems in space, and they also underpin military operations across the sea, land, air, and cyberspace.

Space is a congested and competitive domain. Hazards in space range from space weather to space debris. The space domain also includes a growing range of threats, including nefarious activity from hostile and irresponsible actors seeking to maximise their advantage in the space domain.

UK Space Command works with allies and partners around the world to make space safe, secure, and sustainable for all generations.

UK Space Command

UK Space Command is a joint command based at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. It is staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, alongside civil servants and contractors. UK Space Command’s mission is to protect and defend UK and allied interests in, from, and to space.

National Space Operations Centre

The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) is led by UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency, in partnership with the Met Office. The NSpOC operates and develops the UK’s space surveillance and protection capabilities.

The NSpOC combines and coordinates civil and military space domain awareness capabilities to enable UK space operations and protect UK interests from space-related threats, risks, and hazards. The team includes around 70 military and civilian personnel, with the military element of the NSpOC delivered by 1 Space Operations Squadron.

Protecting the UK's interest in space

Disruption to the UK’s use of space, or the use of space by the UK’s allies, could significantly affect civilian, commercial, and defence activity.

UK Space Command personnel monitor space 24/7, 365 days a year, to protect the UK’s interests in space.

THE DEFENCE LEAD FOR SPACE OPERATIONS, SPACE WORKFORCE AND SPACE CAPABILITY

UK Space Command brings together three functions under a single military commander, Major General Paul Tedman.

SPACE OPERATIONS

Command the UK’s defence space capabilities to monitor the space domain, enable global military operations, and protect and defend allied interests in space.

SPACE WORKFORCE

Harness talent by training a growing cadre of Defence space professionals, who will demonstrate excellence, respect, and trust.

SPACE CAPABILITY

Collaborate with industry, allies, and partners to build a competitive edge in space capability, adopting new technology to achieve strategic advantage.

RAF Fylingdales

 

RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, is the UK’s primary military space sensor. It provides a 24/7 missile warning and space surveillance capability for the UK and its allies. It’s the only 360° radar within the US-led space surveillance network. Its radar can detect objects the size of a drink up to 3,000 miles into space.

RAF Fylingdales’ operational activity is delivered by 2 Space Warning Squadron. Since its foundation in 1963, RAF Fylingdales has been enabled by a whole force team of military and civilian personnel. Over 300 people work at RAF Fylingdales, including military personnel, civilian staff and contractors, Ministry of Defence Police, and fire service.

 

The commander of UK Space Command is Major General Paul Tedman

Major General Tedman took over UK Space Command in May 2024. Prior to this appointment, he spent two years at US Space Command in the role of Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy.

Major General Tedman was commissioned into the Army Air Corps in 1997 and was awarded his Army pilot’s wings in 1999.  Since then, he has held command positions from troop up to brigade in both the UK and the US, and has deployed on operations in the Balkans, Africa, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

International cooperation is critical in the space domain.

No one nation can do it alone. 

UK Space Command continues the UK’s commitment to the Combined Space Operations initiative with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and the US, to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable space domain.

UK Space Command also controls the UK’s participation in the US-led space coalition under Operation Olympic Defender, a multinational coalition formed to deter hostile actors in space and reduce the spread of debris in orbit. It also supports the growth of the NATO space enterprise.

Be part of UK Space Command

We are constantly recruiting, training, and developing individuals to work in the space domain.

Air and Space Operations Specialist (Flight Operations)
Air Operations (Systems) Officer
Cyberspace Communication Specialist
Engineering Officer (Communications Electronics)
Intelligence Officer
Intelligence Analyst

UK Space Command is a joint command with personnel from across the UK Armed Forces. If you are interested in careers in the space domain with the Royal Navy or the British Army, please visit Royal Navy jobs or British Army jobs.