Select Committee · Defence Committee

Space Defence

Status: Closed Opened: 27 May 2021 Closed: 11 Dec 2023 7 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

Space is fundamental to modern warfare and security. It is now recognised as a military domain in its own right, with space-based assets playing an essential role in supporting operations. The Committee will examine the Government’s approach to developing and protecting the UK’s defence space capabilities, and is particularly interested to receive evidence on the … Show more

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Third Report - Defence Space: through adversity to the star…	HC 182	19 Oct 2022	15	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item

13 Recommendation Third Report - Defence Space: through a… Accepted in Part

The investment in new space capabilities set out in the Defence Space Strategy, and the...

The investment in new space capabilities set out in the Defence Space Strategy, and the procurement of the next generation of Skynet communications satellites, will provide a clear opportunity for the MoD to make a positive long-term impact on the sustainability and productivity of the UK’s space industry. The Department … Read more

Government response AI summary

The government commits to investing £1.5 billion over ten years in new technologies and around £5 billion to enhance satellite communication capabilities. The Skynet programme is underway with delivery workstreams, contract competed for Service Delivery Wrap (SDW) to enable MOD to rebuild a cadre of …

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Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions

Date	Witnesses
8 Mar 2022	Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth · Ministry of Defence, George Freeman MP · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, James Heappey MP · Ministry of Defence, Rebecca Evernden · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	View ↗
14 Dec 2021	Justin T. Johnson · Meta Aerospace, Major Tim Peake CMG - British ESA Astronaut	View ↗
7 Sep 2021	Anita Bernie · KISPE Space Systems Ltd, Nick Shave · UKspace, Nik Smith · UKspace, Richard Franklin · Airbus Defence and Space Ltd	View ↗
13 Jul 2021	Dr Mark Hilborne · Kings College London, Dr Mark Presley · MAP Analytica	View ↗

Who gave evidence

12 witnesses

Witness	Organisation	Sessions
Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth · Director, Space	Ministry of Defence	1
Anita Bernie · Strategy and Execution	KISPE Space Systems Ltd	1
Dr Mark Hilborne · Lecturer in the Defence Studies Department	Kings College London	1
Dr Mark Presley · Consultant on Space Policy and Strategy	MAP Analytica	1
George Freeman MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary	Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy	1
James Heappey MP · Minister for the Armed Forces	Ministry of Defence	1
Justin T. Johnson · Senior Vice President	Meta Aerospace	1
Major Tim Peake CMG - British ESA Astronaut	—	1
Nick Shave · Chair	UKspace	1
Nik Smith · Vice-Chair, Security and Defence Committee	UKspace	1
Rebecca Evernden · Director for Space	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	1
Richard Franklin · Managing Director	Airbus Defence and Space Ltd	1