UK Invests £65 Million in New System to Safeguard Military Satellites

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £65 million contract to CGI UK for an innovative space monitoring system that will enhance the UK's ability to protect its military satellites and strengthen awareness of activities in orbit around Earth.

Advanced Monitoring for an Increasingly Contested Domain

Named Borealis, the new command, control and data processing system will provide the UK military and Space Agency with sophisticated software to monitor and protect satellites by rapidly compiling and processing data from multiple sources. The system will form a critical component of the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC), which develops and operates the UK's space surveillance and protection capabilities.

"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," said Major General Paul Tedman, Commander of UK Space Command. "Therefore, it is imperative that we know what is happening in space."

The five-year contract will deliver a bespoke system to compile data related to UK satellites, providing enhanced awareness of orbital activities and enabling better protection of critical space assets against potential threats. This comes at a time when space is becoming increasingly militarised, with several nations demonstrating anti-satellite capabilities in recent years.

Boosting British Industry and Creating Skilled Jobs

Beyond its strategic defence implications, the contract will support approximately 100 highly skilled jobs across Leatherhead, Reading and Bristol, reinforcing the government's commitment to growing the UK space sector and using defence procurement to drive economic growth.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, emphasised this dual benefit: "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."

Paul Russell, Space Delivery Team Leader at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), highlighted the system's importance in establishing a comprehensive approach to the UK's space operations: "The Borealis capability will harness multiple different sources of data (defence, government and commercial) and support military and civil operations and capabilities across all domains."

Building a New Generation of Space Expertise

The development of Borealis represents not only an investment in technology but also in the UK's space workforce. The project will create opportunities for specialists in areas such as satellite communications, data analytics, cybersecurity, and space domain awareness—fields that are increasingly vital for both defence and commercial space operations.

Dr. Eleanor Wright, an independent space policy analyst and former RAF officer, notes the significance of this investment for the UK's talent pipeline: "Projects like Borealis are crucial for developing and retaining high-calibre space professionals in the UK. They provide the complex, challenging work that keeps talented individuals engaged in the sector rather than seeking opportunities abroad."

CGI UK, which won the contract, has established training partnerships with several universities to develop the next generation of space professionals. Their graduate scheme specifically targets software engineers with interests in space applications, creating a pathway for young professionals to enter this growing sector.

"There's a global competition for talent in the space domain," explains James Harford, CGI UK's Head of Space Workforce Development. "Through this project, we're not just building technology—we're building the teams that will shape the UK's space capabilities for decades to come."

Key Capabilities of the Borealis System

The system will deliver several important capabilities:

• Space Domain Awareness: Enhanced ability to understand and analyse what is happening in space around Earth, including monitoring space weather conditions and tracking objects such as space debris and active satellites
• Protection of UK Space Assets: A single, integrated system to compile data related to UK satellites, enabling better protection of critical systems
• Integrated Command and Control: Provision of timely, decision-quality information to government and military commanders through an interoperable system across different security classification levels

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."

The Borealis system will work in conjunction with other UK space programmes, including ISTARI, UK Space Command's initiative to launch satellites into orbit to deliver Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability. Together, these programmes will strengthen the UK's position as a responsible space-faring nation with the capability to protect its assets in this increasingly vital domain.