A new UK-made space monitoring system will help protect military satellites and strengthen space domain awareness, following a £65 million contract awarded to CGI UK, according to a press release from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The system, named Borealis, will provide enhanced command, control, and data processing capabilities, allowing the UK military and the UK Space Agency to better monitor and safeguard satellites from potential threats. The five-year contract will also support around 100 highly skilled jobs in Leatherhead, Reading, and Bristol, contributing to the UK’s growing space sector.
Borealis will act as a centralised software system for the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC), which is responsible for the UK’s space surveillance and protection capabilities. The technology will compile and process data from multiple sources, allowing military commanders to make quicker and more informed decisions on space security matters.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, highlighted the strategic importance of the system:
“This new deal delivers for our national security by enhancing protection for our satellite technology that millions rely on, while boosting jobs and growth at home. This Government continues to work swiftly to develop the new Defence Industrial Strategy. This announcement will support hundreds of highly skilled jobs, unlocking defence as an engine for growth and driving forward this government’s Plan for Change.”
Borealis is expected to improve the UK’s ability to track and analyse activity in orbit, ensuring better protection of national space assets. Key benefits of the system include:
- Space Domain Awareness: Improved ability to monitor space weather, satellites, and debris, ensuring a clearer understanding of orbital activities.
- Protection of UK Space Assets: A bespoke system compiling data on UK satellites, helping UK Space Command defend against potential threats.
- Integrated Command and Control (C2) System: A secure and interoperable system providing decision-quality information across different security levels.
The MoD has stressed the increasingly contested nature of space, with both hostile activities by adversaries and congestion from commercial and governmental satellites making space operations more complex.
Major General Paul Tedman, Commander of UK Space Command, stated:
“The use of space is crucial for our economy, prosperity, security, and defence, but assured access to space is becoming increasingly contested by adversaries and congested by users and debris. Therefore, it is imperative that we know what is happening in space. Borealis is an innovative system that draws together multiple inputs to enhance the UK government’s understanding of the wide-ranging activity on orbit, allowing the UK to protect not just our own space assets, but those of our allies and partners as well.”
Neil Timms, Senior Vice President of Space, Defence & Intelligence UK & Australia at CGI, said:
“We’re proud to support UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency through delivery of Borealis. We believe this is a strategic step towards establishing a more holistic approach to the UK’s national space data architecture, with Borealis and the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) at its heart.”
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Massive investment is all manor of space based assets is probably wise. Would allow us to offer ourselves as an alternative to the US for the EU, something they seem keen to have. That gives us leverage with the EU whilst also giving us soverign capabilities that are great to have as a side effect. Not even Treasury brain can find fault in that.
I agree, we could triple the size of the ISTRI constellation and add in infrared search and track for a few billion. This is probably the biggest thing other than nukes we can bring to European defence.
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“Not even Treasury brain can find fault in that.”
Now you’re being silly…
What became of the UK’s attempt at its own GPS. Dominic Cummings tried to get Boris to do something originally I half remember?
It could have been called ‘Brit Fix’.
It was actually being built and the first satellite was sent to Russia to be sent into space. Then Putin invaded the Ukraine, the UK put sanctions on Russia, Russia then seized the first Satellite. That pretty much got the project cancelled and the company that was doing this for the UK went under.
That’s pretty much how the story played out when reported in the Daily Express. I’ve no idea what the real truth is, it’s definitely another cockup from Boris though. That man was a window licker.
FFS. So Russia now has access too and by default so do China to put best technology. You really couldn’t make it up could you? Bungling incompetence was the hallmark of everything the Tories did.
Why the feck couldn’t we launch our own satellites?
How about a missile defence system for our cities and vital infrastructure
That’s definitely what we need. I think virtually every response to the SDSR public consultation, which was all too brief. Stated clearly GBAD is vital if the UK isn’t simply going to be knocked out on day one of any conflict.
SAMP/T , CAMM ER/ NT, ASTER 30NT, 40MM BOFORS, MARTLETT, these are all weapon systems we can and should be easily able to produce or procure from trustworthy European allies who are also re arming and re equipping their military forces.
The UK produces some first rate equipment and should go all in with European only solutions to our GBAD requirements.
I’d also add direct energy weapons like Dragon fire and ECM, ECCM solutions. The UK needs an integrated air defence system backed up by multiple layers of air defence systems right the way down to CIWS and MANPADS, machine guns and direct energy solutions.
The UK doesn’t even have a space launch vehicle. By weight, 90% of all objects in orbit were put there by Space-X, 4% by other US companies, 4% by China, 2% by everyone else combined.
By “protecting satellites” I suppose they mean..what…getting them to move a little bit? Raising the anti-laser shield? Deploying decoys?
AA