Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
Considered and strategic investment in the UK’s SDA capabilities offers an opportunity to improve the...
Recommendation
Considered and strategic investment in the UK’s SDA capabilities offers an opportunity to improve the UK’s standing and contribution to Allied defence space efforts. The Department should set out how it will ensure that the Defence Space Strategy’s promised investment in Space Domain Awareness maximises the advantages offered by the UK’s existing pockets of expertise and the location of its Overseas Territories. (Paragraph 73) Position, Navigation and Timing
Government Response Summary
The government states it is investing £85 million over ten years in SDA and is working to generate cross-government SDA requirements. They are working to understand options for infrastructure investment in Overseas Territories and will publish capability goals for space capabilities in early 2023.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The NSS and the DSS provide clear strategic direction to deliver improved Space Domain Awareness (SDA). Defence is investing £85 million over ten years in SDA, and in addition, significant work has been undertaken to generate the first set of cross-government SDA requirements. These requirements provide the foundation to conduct a gap analysis of data sources available to the UK and identify key areas for investment. This will combine the use of commercial sensor data, allies’ data and sovereign sensors, to maximise opportunities for dual use. This work will progress over 2023. In addition, work is underway to develop and publish capability goals for space capabilities, including SDA, as part of the implementation of the NSS. We expect to publish these in early 2023. We recognise the unique capability that the UK’s Overseas Territories, Sovereign Base Areas and other overseas military facilities give to the UK for Space Surveillance and Tracking and SDA purposes. Work is already underway to understand the options available for new infrastructure investment at priority locations. Additional locations will be considered in due course by the MOD and UKSA. Wherever possible UK expertise is utilised to maximise the return on investment as well as to develop our sovereign capability in technology and personnel. Defence has funded several Technology Demonstrator Projects through Dstl to advance UK expertise in key areas. Position Navigation and Timing (PNT)