Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Third Report - Defence Space: through adversity to the stars?
Defence Committee
HC 182
Published 19 October 2022
Recommendations
1
Acknowledged
Para 27
Recent years have seen welcome, if only partially successful, attempts to bring more coherence to...
Recommendation
Recent years have seen welcome, if only partially successful, attempts to bring more coherence to space activity both across Whitehall and within the Ministry of Defence. The creation of the National Space Council and the MoD’s Space Directorate were recognised …
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Government Response Summary
The government states its commitment to developing the UK as a space nation, details the Cabinet Committee structure, lists ministerial responsibilities, and describes the role of the National Space Board and UK Space Command.
Ministry of Defence
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3
Rejected
Vision must be backed up with delivery, and with space set to become ever more...
Recommendation
Vision must be backed up with delivery, and with space set to become ever more critical to the national interest it is clear that stronger, more cohesive leadership is required. We recommend that a Minister for Space should be appointed …
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Government Response Summary
The government does not accept the recommendation to appoint a Minister for Space within the Cabinet Office. It states that discussions on space will be taken by the most relevant Cabinet Committee. The Minister for Science at the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has responsibility for Space in their portfolio.
Ministry of Defence
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6
Accepted
Space literacy must also be embedded across Defence if multi-domain integration is to succeed.
Recommendation
Space literacy must also be embedded across Defence if multi-domain integration is to succeed. As well as establishing a Space Academy for defence space specialists, the MoD must ensure that wider professional military education comprehensively covers the role played by …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that foundation space training is already available through the Defence Learning Environment and other courses. They are refining the UK Space Academy training requirements prior to engaging for partnering opportunities, with formal tendering towards the end of 2022.
Ministry of Defence
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8
Accepted
Para 72
Space Domain Awareness capabilities are rightly recognised by Government and stakeholders as being critical to...
Recommendation
Space Domain Awareness capabilities are rightly recognised by Government and stakeholders as being critical to safely operating in an increasingly contested and congested space environment. A cross-Government SDA strategy should be produced and implemented as soon as possible: the Department …
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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.
Ministry of Defence
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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 …
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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.
Ministry of Defence
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11
Accepted
Against this backdrop of political failure, it is simply unacceptable that almost four years on,...
Recommendation
Against this backdrop of political failure, it is simply unacceptable that almost four years on, and with tens of millions of pounds spent, the Government appears no closer to coming to any conclusions about development of the UK’s own space- …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges frustrations with the EU decision on Galileo. They have created a PNT project team to take forward the cross-Government PNT agenda and are investing in projects including RGNS and AltNav to enhance PNT resilience.
Ministry of Defence
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13
Accepted in Part
Para 110
The investment in new space capabilities set out in the Defence Space Strategy, and the...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 qualified personnel.
Ministry of Defence
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Conclusions (8)
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 28
Even before these recent developments, which seem to be a backward step, cross- Whitehall governance on space lacked sufficient clarity and direction. The delays to publication of the National and Defence Space Strategies frustrated industry and other stakeholders and suggest that despite the previous Prime Minister’s stated personal commitment to …
Government Response Summary
The government states its commitment to developing the UK as a space nation, details the Cabinet Committee structure, lists ministerial responsibilities, and describes the role of the National Space Board and UK Space Command.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 43
There is a clear challenge for the Government in addressing skills shortages and recruitment and retention difficulties in the space sector. Meeting this challenge will require a long-term, holistic approach to education and workforce development. Encouraging an interest in STEM subjects and space careers from a young age will be …
Government Response Summary
The government states that work is ongoing across government to inspire the future workforce and that the space sector and academia continue to benefit from broader support in STEM and other skills initiatives delivered by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) . Defence participates in a regular forum that exists for officials to coordinate and progress delivery of this ambition across government.
5
Conclusion
Accepted
Defence faces particular challenges in recruiting and retaining space specialists. We were encouraged by the Minister for the Armed Forces’ support for a more flexible approach to recruitment and career management within Defence, and we support the use of secondments to and from industry. But changes must be made at …
Government Response Summary
The government states that foundation space training is already readily available across Defence through the Defence Learning Environment, where practitioner and expert courses are also well-established and available to all MOD personnel through the Air and Space Warfare School. A new foundational course will be integrated across all Defence entry-level training next year. UK Space Command is now refining the UK Space Academy training requirements prior to engaging openly for potential partnering opportunities.
7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 66
The response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has underlined the importance of the international community taking a united approach in the face of irresponsible and aggressive behaviour. We welcome the UK’s leading role at the United Nations in seeking to achieve a consensus on responsible norms and behaviours in space …
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the Committee’s support in continuing to take a leading role at the United Nations on responsible space behaviours. The MOD is working closely with the FCDO on this initiative and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a UK-sponsored resolution (A/RES/76/231) on 24 December 2021.
10
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 83
The events surrounding the UK’s expulsion from the EU’s Galileo programme were deeply unsatisfactory and demonstrated a failure of statecraft on all sides. The European Commission’s decision was deeply regrettable given the extensive contribution, including financing of £1.2 billion, that the UK had made to the Galileo programme since its …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's frustrations regarding the EU's decision on Galileo and states that Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) remains a priority, noting current projects and investments to enhance PNT resilience.
12
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The Ministry of Defence will have to carefully balance competing priorities in determining which defence space capabilities must be “owned” by Government and which can be provided by collaboration with Allies or through a commercial contract. Russia’s recent impounding of OneWeb satellites at the Baikonur cosmodrome demonstrates the potential dangers …
Government Response Summary
The government states that it will continue to identify the UK-based industrial capabilities the MOD requires in order to deliver and sustain military capability and conduct military operations as we choose without reliance on other nations, and to protect the sensitive technologies that underpin those capabilities. With regard to transparency of critical investment decisions impacting Defence, the BEIS Select Committee has responsibility for oversight of the NSI Act.
14
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 116
In order to meet the challenges posed by the rapid pace of technological advancement in the space domain, the MoD will need to take every opportunity to learn from the experiences of Allies. The pioneering approach taken by the US Space Development Agency will be of particular relevance.
Government Response Summary
The MOD is committed to international collaboration, sharing knowledge and experience with Five Eyes partners and other nations. UK Space Command collaborates closely with bilateral partners, in particular the US, with liaison officers and exchange officers embedded within US Space Command.
15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Space acquisitions require an innovative and flexible approach to procurement, but the MoD will need to balance this against ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. This will not be an easy task, and the Department’s endemic failure to robustly manage major projects does not inspire confidence that they will …
Government Response Summary
The government is exploring ways to enable greater agility and iterative delivery of capability, and the Defence Space Portfolio will be able to take advantage of this approach. UK Space Command recently published a Capability Management Plan, which gives an indication of milestones, and the government would be pleased to provide the Committee with a Written Ministerial Statement on the progress in early 2023.