RUSI Space Power Conference 2023

Space is increasingly being recognised as a key domain that will shape the future of warfare. The war in Ukraine has showcased the utility of space assets on the modern battlefield; both sides have relied heavily on space capabilities for a wide range of services in both civilian and military contexts. New Space Commands are being set up all around the world. This is evidence that governments and militaries have already recognised their existing reliance and the potential of space assets to further enhance capabilities. Therefore, many countries are carving out new nerve centres to coordinate developments in space, with independent budgets. The UK is among these nations – the publication of its National Space Strategy (2021), its Defence Space Strategy (2022) and Space Power Doctrine (2022), along with the establishment of Space Command in 2021, have shown that the UK is serious about its ambitions for space. With plans established and the strategy set, it is now time to turn these ambitions into reality.

This conference will bring together senior decision makers and industry experts to take stock of the UK space strategy and progress made to date. The speakers and audience will discuss how space is slotting into the wider defence framework and how it will shape the defence and security landscape going forward. RUSI’s independence and convening power makes this conference an ideal place to host these important discussions between different stakeholder groups in the UK space sector.

When talking about resilience and defence it is crucial to not take space, and the assets it enables, for granted. The battlefields of the past decades have given the false impression that space can always be relied upon and is a digital backbone that is never vulnerable itself. More recent developments in Ukraine in the form of jamming and cyber attacks have proven that this is not always the case: space, the assets it enables and the services it provides can become targets in war itself. This, in turn, raises the question of resilience for space assets and what the defence of space systems might look like. The debate must also include the UK’s allies – on whose capabilities and exchange of information national security also relies. Integration with space is crucial for a modern force and integration with allies is needed for continued development and future success.

Therefore, it is crucial that previous assumptions are challenged, and that the future way forward takes into account new vulnerabilities, as well as the new capabilities and opportunities that commercial actors can provide. The Space Power Conference will provide a forum for these conversations with a diverse set of stakeholders present, ensuring an honest and open exchange.