How is Inzpire influencing future thinking on UK space capabilities?
27 Nov 23
Space
Given the strategic backdrop detailed in both the National Space Strategy and the Defence Space Strategy, the UK is pursuing a bold national vision which will require coordinated, coherent and collaborative action from across government to help set its place globally as a meaningful actor in space.
This brings together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation, diplomacy, and training and education. With defence tasked with protecting our national interests in and through space, we explore the ways our Space Division is rising to the challenge through thought leadership and innovative training solutions.
We live in an era of persistent competition where the space domain has become congested, complex, critical, and contested
As the importance of space, and the space systems we rely on continues to grow, any disruption to, or exploitation of vulnerabilities would have severe consequences. Indeed, we live in an era of persistent competition where the space domain has become congested, complex, critical, and contested; amplified through events in Ukraine and exacerbated by the lack of internationally recognised responsible space behaviours. Furthermore, growth of the UK space sector and the rapid proliferation of space technologies and services has led to the development of commercial products that are increasingly advanced and able to contribute directly to UK security and resilience.
UK Space Command has a critical role to play in cohering this work to develop and deliver space capabilities and missions.
How are we supporting this?
By reinforcing future thinking through the Defence Space Academy
As announced recently, UK Space Command is developing plans to work with industry and academic partners to establish a Defence Space Academy. It aims to harness talent by training a growing cadre of defence space professionals, who will demonstrate excellence, respect, and trust. To support this, we are continuing to update and rewrite (where necessary) many of UK Space Command’s courses to be taught within the Academy’s syllabus. The bedrock of innovative thinking is being reinforced within the updated courses, with the use of vignettes and practical scenarios to ensure UK Space Command’s workforce will be a valuable part of the MOD’s integrated force.
We are continuing to update courses as part of a contract for UK Space Command
By providing thought leadership on current and future hot topics
We recently provided a paper to both UK Space Command and the Freeman Air and Space Institute on the importance of understanding in the space domain.
The paper, entitled ‘Gaining and maintaining advantage in space: Space Domain Awareness or Space Domain Understanding?’ suggests that UK Space doctrine could benefit from developing not just an awareness of space, but an enhanced understanding of the domain and updating its doctrinal terminology.
By collaborating with allies during Exercise COBRA WARRIOR
Our highly experienced ex-military space instructors also provided subject matter and training expertise to the UK Space Command’s Qualified Space Instructor Course during the Royal Air Force’s multi-national, capstone event, Exercise COBRA WARRIOR; by planning, integrating, and executing space operations and non-kinetic effects.
The Qualified Space Instructor Course develops the skills of military space operators from across the RAF, British Army and Royal Navy. It ensures students have a detailed knowledge of space, its capability areas and operational application before they start roles in the space domain.
To support the course, we developed the training ‘toolbox’, a selection of military capabilities that students could use during each mission. This ensured that students could contribute to the overall mission commander’s objectives and underpin mission success. We also developed a range of scenarios which gradually increased in complexity, to further test their skills.
This collaborative exercise, through participation with allied nations, provided an opportunity to deliver strategic messaging, underpinning the operational importance of the space domain.
Through engagement with defence and industry partners
Through events such as the upcoming Defence Space Conference 2023, our Space Division can enhance dialogue, build relationships and broaden understanding of the training services and professional skills that we are able to contribute as we broaden our portfolio.
We believe that working closely with industry partners and academia will also enable defence to cohere investment to ensure space is safe, secure, and sustainable in the future. The fact that UK Space Command partner with The Air and Space Power Association in the delivery of the Defence Space Conference 2023, is significant in achieving this goal.
Our Head of Space, Duncan Sackley will be attending the Defence Space Conference 2023
The conference is a key UK platform that brings together senior members of military space community (including our close allies), industry partners, academia and representatives from other government departments. It provides a collaborative community of interest to explain military plans on space; to share and cohere current thinking; and to seek innovative inputs for future development of the UK space domain.
Our Head of Space, Duncan Sackley (duncan.sackley @ Inzpire.com) will be attending Defence Space Conference 2023 and would welcome the opportunity to discuss matters of the moment and collaborative themes.
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