The UK is planning to build a radar station in Wales as part of the AUKUS alliance with the US and Australia to monitor space activities, particularly from Russia and China. The station, located at Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, aims to protect vital satellite communications and navigation systems. This move comes amid concerns about the increasing militarization of space, with Russia and China seen as the main threats. The UK Defence Secretary emphasized that this new station will help safeguard the country’s space assets.
The UK, US, and Australia have teamed up under a security partnership known as AUKUS to tackle growing concerns about space threats. As part of this effort, the UK Royal Air Force plans to build a new radar station in Wales, specifically at Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire. This station is designed to monitor space activities and protect against potential threats from countries like Russia and China.
The radar station, called “Darc,” will track satellites and safeguard important satellite communication and navigation systems that are crucial for modern life and national security. The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, emphasized that this station is vital for protecting the UK’s space assets.
This move comes amid increasing tensions in space. Recently, Russia proposed a resolution at the United Nations to ensure that space remains free of weapons and is not used for military purposes. However, this resolution was blocked by several countries, including the US, UK, and France. Following this, the US accused Russia of possibly deploying an anti-satellite weapon into orbit, a claim that has raised further concerns.
Russia, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that it supports peaceful use of space and opposes the militarization of space. Alongside China, Russia aims to prevent an arms race in space, while accusing the US and its allies of turning space into a battleground by positioning it as an area of competition and potential conflict.
In a related development, the US Space Force has hired six private companies to develop ideas for simulating military scenarios in space, further signaling that space is becoming a new frontier for defense and security strategies.
