Shield Space launches UK Space Superiority Coalition for commercial orbital defence
Shield Space has formed a coalition of UK firms to build a commercially led orbital strike force for UK and NATO use.
UK-based orbital security startup Shield Space has launched the UK Space Superiority Coalition, aiming to give UK and NATO forces a commercially led defence force in orbit. The coalition includes AstroAnalytica, Goonhilly, Magdrive, Mutable Tactics, Optera, Third Planet Orbital and others.
The group wants to build a space-based carrier strike force to give western militaries more options to respond to threats on orbit. Shield Space cofounder and CTO Dan Molland said the concept involves deploying swarms of interceptors to create a deterrent. He pointed to a Russian satellite that came close to an ICEYE satellite operating over Ukraine this month.
The coalition named six priorities for the proposed force and will initially target non-kinetic capabilities. CEO Graeme Ritchie described a spectrum of effects, from reversible, degradable and deniable options through to anti-satellite weapons.
The first proposed mission is Project SPEAR, a commercially led demonstration. It would integrate members' technologies into one system that can sense and respond to threats on orbit.
Sourcepayloadspace.com