UK space threat detection system operational six months early

A new software system designed to track threats to British satellites has reached operational status six months ahead of schedule, the Ministry of Defence has announced, as the UK also released the first images captured by its Noctis-1 military space telescope.

Major General Paul Tedman, Commander of UK Space Command, said the combination of Noctis-1 and the new Borealis software represented a step change in the UK’s ability to operate in what he described as the invisible front line.

“Protecting and defending the invisible front line in space requires us to see and understand what is happening in orbit and then make decisions at machine speed. Noctis-1, with Noctis-2 swiftly to follow, will provide us the sovereign eyes we need to augment our space domain awareness. Data is the coin of the realm in space operations. Borealis exploits edge software to make sense of the vast amounts of information we ingest and then model actionable choices to my operators in the National Space Operations Centre. Together, they represent a significant enhancement to the UK’s space capability.”

Borealis rapidly compiles, fuses, and analyses data from multiple sources to provide the National Space Operations Centre with a faster and more accurate picture of the space environment, including debris and satellites from adversaries that could pose a threat to UK assets. Images and data from Noctis-1, formerly known as Nyx-Alpha, are fed directly into the system. The first images released from the telescope show the International Space Station, the UK’s Skynet military communications satellites, and other satellites from nations around the world.

The system is being rolled out under a £65 million five-year contract with CGI UK, supporting 100 skilled jobs across sites in Leatherhead, Reading, and Bristol. Neil Timms, Senior Vice President of Space, Defence and Intelligence at CGI, said delivering the system to operational readiness half a year early reflected the company’s track record in complex space programmes.

“By combining deep domain expertise with modern engineering practices, we’ve provided a scalable capability that can adapt as mission demands and the threat landscape continue to evolve.”

Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said space had become a contested domain. “Protecting our satellites from adversaries keeps our economy moving and keeps us all safe. As we increase defence spending we are investing in new defensive capabilities in all domains, including UK space-based capabilities.” Space Minister Liz Lloyd said Borealis represented a significant step forward in the UK’s ability to monitor, protect and defend critical space capabilities. The UK Space Agency co-funded the investment alongside Space Command.

Nearly 20% of UK GDP is estimated to be reliant on satellite services, covering navigation, financial transactions, weather forecasting, military operations, and global communications. Borealis is deployed at the National Space Operations Centre, which delivers the UK’s space surveillance and protection mission.