British and American space forces work together

The U.S. Army’s 1st Space Brigade has taken steps to strengthen its tactical collaboration with the United Kingdom’s space-focused military units, as three of its officers visited UK Space Command and the Multi-Role Support Squadron (MRSS) in late September.

The visit aimed to solidify new and existing strategic relationships and increase interoperability between the two nations in space operations, according to a press release.

During their visit, the officers met with UK space personnel at both UK Space Command headquarters in High Wycombe and at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, where MRSS is based. This engagement is part of a broader initiative led by the brigade’s UK working group, a new, permanent team that includes intelligence and space control experts. Capt.

Paulina Montgomery, Strategic Initiatives Chief for the 1st Space Brigade, noted the importance of this initiative.

“1st Space Brigade’s UK working group formed this year in order to cultivate our partnership with the MRSS as we pursue synonymous efforts in advancing our space systems, technology, and processes on a global scale,” she said. “This collaboration provides invaluable experience, enabling us to learn from one another and implement the best methods in joint operations.”

The UK has expressed ambitions to become a more competitive space power within the next decade. According to Maj. Gen. Paul Tedman, commander of UK Space Command, this goal will be achieved by expanding space capabilities and partnering with government and private sector entities to strengthen joint operations.

In line with this goal, Wing Cmdr. Gareth Jones, MRSS commander, said the partnership brings clear operational benefits, describing it as “a shared vision, ethos, and operational approach” that supports collaboration. “We benefit immensely from the close ties forged with 1st Space Brigade…We have developed and shared tactics and processes and set milestones to enhance future collaboration,” he said. “This work ensures operational interoperability and that we may fight and win together.”

The brigade’s working group has plans for continued exchanges, including more regular visits to the UK and to the brigade’s base in Colorado. Capt. Anthony Cupit, Chief of Space Operations for the 1st Space Brigade, stressed the importance of face-to-face interactions for building trust and setting actionable goals. “Our in-person visit was critical to developing strong relationships between our organisations to allow for continued partnership and team building,” he said, adding that they had developed short-term and long-term objectives to support real-world operations.

Both sides also discussed training opportunities and exercises to align their tactics and operational approaches, with Cupit noting the value of shared after-action reviews to refine best practices. “At the brigade and battalion echelons, we can train together through exercises and the development of new certification plans,” Cupit explained.

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