Britain has been using a ground-based laser system to disrupt adversary spy satellites, temporarily blinding their optical sensors and preventing them from transmitting intelligence, according to a UPI report citing senior British defense sources.
The system has reportedly been deployed over the past year to protect sensitive military activities, including operations involving Britain’s nuclear-armed submarine fleet and special forces. The sources said it had also disrupted surveillance of military bases, although they did not identify the countries whose satellites were targeted.
The reported capability comes as Britain expands its military space operations, with the Royal Air Force (RAF) establishing a dedicated squadron to counter hostile threats to satellites and other space-based infrastructure.
Laser system targets satellite sensors
According to theUPI report, the British system directs laser energy at the electro-optical sensors aboard reconnaissance satellites, temporarily interfering with their ability to collect or transmit usable imagery.
Unlike destructive anti-satellite weapons, which can permanently damage spacecraft or generate debris, laser dazzling is intended to interfere with a satellite’s sensors without physically destroying it. The effectiveness of such a system depends on factors including the target’s orbit, sensor design, atmospheric conditions, and the laser’s power and accuracy.
British officials have not publicly disclosed the system’s technical specifications, operating locations, or thesatellitesit has targeted. The reported deployment follows warnings from British military officials about similar capabilities being used against UK satellites.
More from Military
See AllAI and RoboticsEOS partners with Dutch MinDef to develop 100-kW laser system to destroy drone swarmsMilitary8,157-ton nuclear powered submarine leaves UK shipyard for first sea trialsMilitaryMassive boost for Navy’s ultimate SPY-6 radar comes from one tiny domestic componentMilitaryChina’s 339m nuclear carrier could hold 90 aircraft, beating world’s largest US warshipMilitaryUS to conduct anti-submarine operations perfectly with tiltrotor that deploys undersea sensorsIn October 2025, then-UK Space Command chief Maj.Gen. Paul Tedman saidRussia was targeting British satellites with ground-based systems on a weekly basis.
Separately, the Ministry of Defence announced in October 2025 that it was funding sensors designed to detect lasers that could dazzle satellites or interfere with communications. The project was backed by approximately £500,000 and involved UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency.
RAF establishes new space warfare squadron
On September 23, the RAF announced No. III Space Effects Squadron, its first dedicated unit focused on countering hostile activity against British interests in space.
The Ministry of Defence said the squadron would useelectronic warfareand other capabilities to disrupt, degrade, and deny hostile threats. It will support both offensive and defensive operations and bring together specialist personnel from across the armed forces.
The unit will work alongside existing RAF space operations and warning squadrons. Its responsibilities include protecting satellites used for missile warning, military communications, intelligence gathering, and navigation.
The announcement came as Defense Secretary Wes Streeting warned that threats to British space infrastructure were growing in scale, speed, and sophistication.
Britain’s dependence on satellites extends beyond military operations. Satellite navigation supports emergency services and transport, while timing and communications services underpin financial networks and parts of the energy sector.
Growing competition in orbit
The reported laser deployment reflects a broader shift toward non-kinetic counterspace capabilities, which can interfere with satellites without destroying them.
Jamming, spoofing, cyber operations, andlaser dazzlingare among the methods countries are developing to disrupt an adversary’s access to space-based services. Such capabilities can potentially affect military intelligence, communications, and navigation without creating the debris associated with destructive anti-satellite missile tests.
Britain’s September announcement also forms part of a wider space strategy that includes£880 millionin planned investment in space-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and space-control activities between 2026 and 2030.
While the RAF’s new squadron is officially confirmed, the operational details of Britain’s reported laser attacks remain undisclosed. The UPI report did not identify the targeted satellites or provide independent technical evidence of the system’s use.
The development nevertheless highlights how military competition is extending beyond spacecraft themselves to the ground-based systems capable of denying an adversary access to information gathered from orbit.
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Kaif ShaikhKaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.
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Britain has been using a ground-based laser system to disrupt adversary spy satellites, temporarily blinding their optical sensors and preventing them from transmitting intelligence, according to a UPI report citing senior British defense sources.
The system has reportedly been deployed over the past year to protect sensitive military activities, including operations involving Britain’s nuclear-armed submarine fleet and special forces. The sources said it had also disrupted surveillance of military bases, although they did not identify the countries whose satellites were targeted.
The reported capability comes as Britain expands its military space operations, with the Royal Air Force (RAF) establishing a dedicated squadron to counter hostile threats to satellites and other space-based infrastructure.
Laser system targets satellite sensors
According to theUPI report, the British system directs laser energy at the electro-optical sensors aboard reconnaissance satellites, temporarily interfering with their ability to collect or transmit usable imagery.
Unlike destructive anti-satellite weapons, which can permanently damage spacecraft or generate debris, laser dazzling is intended to interfere with a satellite’s sensors without physically destroying it. The effectiveness of such a system depends on factors including the target’s orbit, sensor design, atmospheric conditions, and the laser’s power and accuracy.
British officials have not publicly disclosed the system’s technical specifications, operating locations, or thesatellitesit has targeted. The reported deployment follows warnings from British military officials about similar capabilities being used against UK satellites.
More from Military
See AllAI and RoboticsEOS partners with Dutch MinDef to develop 100-kW laser system to destroy drone swarmsMilitary8,157-ton nuclear powered submarine leaves UK shipyard for first sea trialsMilitaryMassive boost for Navy’s ultimate SPY-6 radar comes from one tiny domestic componentMilitaryChina’s 339m nuclear carrier could hold 90 aircraft, beating world’s largest US warshipMilitaryUS to conduct anti-submarine operations perfectly with tiltrotor that deploys undersea sensorsIn October 2025, then-UK Space Command chief Maj.Gen. Paul Tedman saidRussia was targeting British satellites with ground-based systems on a weekly basis.
Separately, the Ministry of Defence announced in October 2025 that it was funding sensors designed to detect lasers that could dazzle satellites or interfere with communications. The project was backed by approximately £500,000 and involved UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency.
RAF establishes new space warfare squadron
On September 23, the RAF announced No. III Space Effects Squadron, its first dedicated unit focused on countering hostile activity against British interests in space.
The Ministry of Defence said the squadron would useelectronic warfareand other capabilities to disrupt, degrade, and deny hostile threats. It will support both offensive and defensive operations and bring together specialist personnel from across the armed forces.
The unit will work alongside existing RAF space operations and warning squadrons. Its responsibilities include protecting satellites used for missile warning, military communications, intelligence gathering, and navigation.
The announcement came as Defense Secretary Wes Streeting warned that threats to British space infrastructure were growing in scale, speed, and sophistication.
Britain’s dependence on satellites extends beyond military operations. Satellite navigation supports emergency services and transport, while timing and communications services underpin financial networks and parts of the energy sector.
Growing competition in orbit
The reported laser deployment reflects a broader shift toward non-kinetic counterspace capabilities, which can interfere with satellites without destroying them.
Jamming, spoofing, cyber operations, andlaser dazzlingare among the methods countries are developing to disrupt an adversary’s access to space-based services. Such capabilities can potentially affect military intelligence, communications, and navigation without creating the debris associated with destructive anti-satellite missile tests.
Britain’s September announcement also forms part of a wider space strategy that includes£880 millionin planned investment in space-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and space-control activities between 2026 and 2030.
While the RAF’s new squadron is officially confirmed, the operational details of Britain’s reported laser attacks remain undisclosed. The UPI report did not identify the targeted satellites or provide independent technical evidence of the system’s use.
The development nevertheless highlights how military competition is extending beyond spacecraft themselves to the ground-based systems capable of denying an adversary access to information gathered from orbit.
Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.
By subscribing, you agree to our
Terms of Useand
PoliciesYou may unsubscribe at any time.
0
COMMENT
Subscribe to
Today!
Access to exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.
Explore Now!By
Kaif ShaikhKaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.
- 1Offshore wind farm with 33 giant 18-MW turbines begins full operation in China
- 28,157-ton nuclear powered submarine leaves UK shipyard for first sea trials
- 3360 feet recyclable wind turbine blade built, achieves 95% recovery rate for key raw materials
- 4World's first isotope refinery project that can transform fusion innovation gets funding boost
- 5World's longest-range twin-engine jet gets new turbofan with up to 8% more thrust
