Vital emergency services, military operations and British businesses are set to benefit from a major upgrade in the UK’s space defence capabilities, as a new satellite‑protection system becomes operational six months ahead of schedule.
The new software, known as Borealis, is now live and significantly strengthens the UK’s ability to monitor, track and protect satellites and the services that depend on them. The system improves awareness of activity in space, including the movement of debris and satellites operated by adversaries that could pose a threat to UK assets.
By rapidly compiling, fusing and analysing data from multiple sources, Borealis provides the National Space Operations Centre with a faster and more accurate picture of what is happening in Earth’s orbit. This enhanced space awareness gives military commanders the intelligence they need to protect and defend critical space systems that underpin national security and economic activity.
First images released from UK military space telescope
The announcement coincides with the first public release of images captured by Noctis‑1, the UK’s military space telescope, previously known as Nyx‑Alpha. The telescope monitors objects in Earth’s orbit and provides precise position data on UK satellites, helping to prevent collisions and protect vital space infrastructure.
Images captured by Noctis‑1 include the International Space Station, the UK’s SKYNET military communications satellites, and a wide range of satellites operated by other nations. This imagery and data is fed directly into the Borealis system, strengthening its ability to detect risks and track emerging threats in space.
Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said:
“Space is now a contested domain. Protecting our satellites from adversaries keeps our economy moving and keeps us all safe. As we increase defence spending, we are investing in new defensive capabilities in all domains, including UK space-based capabilities.”
£65 million investment supporting jobs and defence readiness
Borealis is being delivered through a £65 million, five‑year contract with CGI UK, supporting around 100 highly skilled jobs in Leatherhead, Reading and Bristol. The system is a UK‑made capability, designed to support military operations worldwide while strengthening sovereign resilience at home.
The investment forms part of the government’s largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, with defence investment set to rise to 2.6% of GDP from 2027. With nearly 20% of UK GDP reliant on satellite services, the ability to monitor and safeguard space assets is increasingly critical to national infrastructure, from global navigation and weather forecasting to financial transactions and modern military operations.
Strengthening decision‑making across government and defence
Deployed at the National Space Operations Centre, Borealis underpins the UK’s space surveillance and protection mission by:
- Monitoring environmental conditions and objects in space, including debris and active satellites
- Compiling and analysing data related to UK satellites to improve protection
- Providing timely, actionable intelligence to government and military commanders, strengthening decision‑making on Earth
The programme builds on the long‑standing partnership between UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency, combining defence and civil expertise to improve space safety, strengthen national resilience and ensure the UK remains a responsible and trusted space‑faring nation.
Image credit: iStock
