"RAF" Fylingdales, Pickering, North Yorkshire YO18 7NT (approx. 10miles NNW of Pickering)

lready involved in US missile defense, the stand-up of the UK Space Command increases Fylingdale’s involvement with US space operations.

“UK Space Command carries the UK’s commitment in the Combined Space Operations initiative, which comprises of seven nations: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, UK and the US. The initiative seeks to improve cooperation, coordination, and interoperability opportunities in space, with main efforts focussed on ensuring a safe, secure and stable space domain.” (Source Malvern Observer 30 July 2021)

“Cooperation” here is in the context of confrontation – criticism of Russia’s and China’s behaviour in space.

“Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the head of the Royal Air Force, told Sky News: "Right now we see countries like Russia and China testing and demonstrating anti-satellite weapons - satellites with all the characteristics of a weapon deployed in space.

‘We see them rehearsing, manoeuvring, which frankly have only one purpose which is to destroy satellites, so that is a real concern to us and that's behaviour that we would want the international community to call out.’” (Source BBC News 30 July 2021)