Space - no longer just the final frontier, but a critical pillar of national defence.
While space has underpinned defence capabilities for a generation, discussions at the recent Farnborough Space Show reflected a clear shift – recognising space as a contested, operational domain, requiring immediate attention and strategic investment.
For decades, space-based assets have enabled intelligence gathering, global communications, and precision navigation. But, with the evolving threat landscape and adversaries developing both cyber and kinetic counter-space capabilities - the urgency to protect and fully integrate space within defence planning has never been greater.
Satellites are vital military assets that are essential for real-time intelligence, secure communications, and battlefield awareness. This has made them clear targets for disruption or attack, placing them at the centre of national security discourse.
Yet despite their critical role, a systemic understanding of space within the broader defence ecosystem remains underdeveloped. As noted in recent commentary from RUSI, space is often treated as a niche or specialist concern, rather than a domain that must be actively integrated into cross-service operational planning.
In a keynote session at the Space Show, Nik Smith, Regional Director for UK and Europe at Lockheed Martin Space, captured the sector’s feelings:
“The time to debate whether or not we need to invest in space has passed. The only decision that remains is whether or not we act now to protect these critical assets.”
The sense of urgency was echoed across the event. Space is no longer a future-facing ambition, it is present-day infrastructure that is demanding resilient systems, rapid innovation, and committed collaboration between government, MoD, industry, and academia.
The West’s lead in space is under increasing pressure, and maintaining that strategic edge will require more agile, integrated approaches to R&D, procurement, and innovation deployment. If traditional silos remain in place, the pace of progress will be outmatched by those who are rapidly advancing their own space capabilities.
In the UK, initiatives like the Skynet 6 Programme and UK Space Command are bridging the gap in space-based defence by modernising satellite communications, coordinating military space operations, and embedding space into defence strategy.
However, ongoing leadership and education remain essential to build broader understanding across the defence community of the vital role space plays and the risks posed if these systems are disrupted.
Modern defence systems are reliant on space-based assets, and as such, national space strategies must reflect this reality. Defence stakeholders are being urged to view space not as a support function, but as a core domain - alongside land, sea, air, and cyber. This reframing will be key to ensuring space continues to deliver an operational advantage for our forces in increasingly contested environments.
Space is now integral to modern conflict, not only by delivering strategic advantage, but also as a potential battleground.
Clear B2B works with defence organisations to help shape narratives, build stakeholder trust, and drive strategic visibility. If your organisation is ready to elevate its voice in this evolving landscape, contact Allyson Higgins today.
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