The Air and Space Power Association (ASPA)

The UK's Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard will open this year's #DefenceSpace on 24 September just as the Strategic Defence Review gathers pace. Hear how important Space is to our national security and to the effectiveness of our armed forces. Sessions will cover: - Space sector partnerships across government and industry. - International collaboration and UK policy and plans to deepen space relationships with overseas space nations. - Space operations and integrating space capabilities across the Land, Sea, Air & Cyber domains. - Future of Space: the technologies and skills needed for strategic advantage in Space. Join leading figures across the UK and international space spectrum and help shape the future of the UK in Space. Book your ticket now! https://bit.ly/4czWzIR

Join space leaders UK Space Command #DefenceSpace on 24-25 September. Policy heads from Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), Department for Business and Trade, Satellite Applications Catapult, Dstl and Strategic Command will share plans to work as one team and partner with industry to deliver the UK's space ambitions. Join the conference and discussions. Gold ticket holders can attend the VIP reception. Plus there's an opportunity to participate in the MoD / Industry Working Groups on the afternoon of Day Two. Full programme details here plus tickets: https://bit.ly/4czWzIR

Tyche, our first satellite, is now in Low Earth Orbit, around 500km above the Earth. Tyche was launched from California last week, following hard work delivering the Tyche project by UK Space Command, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), Dstl, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). SpaceX took these brilliant photos of Tyche lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The countdown begins for #DefenceSpace24 on 24-25 September! Day One opens with a keynote by Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard MP. The opening sessions - Integrated Partners - will hear from space policy leaders and industry leaders as they explore how to forge deeper partnerships between industry and government and integrate Space policymaking to foster an innovative and competitive space sector and ensure agile procurement of space capabilities. Hear perspectives on 'One Government, One Space' from Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Space Team Leader Paul Russell, Department for Business and Trade Head of Space Joshua Broom, Satellite Applications Catapult Director of Defence & Security Melanie C. and UK Space Command Jason Gnaneswaran. Hear the industry views from: Former Deputy Commander Royal Air Force (RAF) Sir Stuart Atha KBE CB DSO, Chair UKspace and SVP CGI UK John Hanley, Kata Escott CB UK MD Airbus Defence and Space , Director Space BAE Systems Doug Liddle and CEO Thales Alenia Space Andrew Stanniland. Full programme and tickets here: https://bit.ly/4czWzIR The conference includes a VIP reception on the evening of Day One plus Day Two closes with a lunch followed by UK Defence-facilitated industry working groups. Don't miss out!

Partners across the UK government have published updated UK civil and defence requirements for Space Domain Awareness (SDA). These requirements outline potential future government SDA requirements for industry, and they will be regularly reviewed. https://lnkd.in/exjpZrgh

The UK Space Command #DefenceSpace24 conference is coming soon! The programme includes an impressive line-up including nine keynote speakers. Confirmed keynote speakers include: ·          Chief of the Air Staff Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton ·          Chief of Joint Operations Strategic Command Lieutenant General Sir Charles Stickland ·         Commander United States Space Force General Stephen N. Whiting ·         Deputy Commanding General for Operations US Army Space & Missile Defense Command Brigadier General John L. Dawber Other key speakers include from the UK: ·         Air Marshal Allan Marshall, Air & Space Commander, Royal Air Force (RAF) ·         Major General Paul Tedman CBE, Commander, UK Space Command ·         WO Caroline Cooper, Command Warrant Officer, UK Space Command ·         Professor Anu Ojha, Director of Championing Space, UK Space Agency ·         Paul Russell Space Team Leader, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)   Other key speakers from overseas include: ·         Major General Gregory Novak, Commander, Space Command AU ·         Major General Michael Traut, Commander, German Space Command ·         Daniel Higbert, Senior Space Coordinator, NATO Defence Investment Division NATO Space Centre of Excellence Many more high-profile speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.  The programme created by UK Space Command with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) will include conference, exhibition and networking with an exclusive reception on the evening of Day One. Day Two will focus on industry with a Dragon's Den style focus on the latest game-changing technologies in the space sector. Plus in the afternoon, space tech companies will be invited to focused networking workshops. More details coming soon! How to register and tickets here: https://bit.ly/4czWzIR

This Inside Air podcast with the Royal Air Force (RAF) Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, offers great insight into his view of the need to grow the RAF's capabilities and ensure that effectiveness trumps so-called 'efficiency' and 'value' for it to fly, fight, deter and win. After all, the only thing more expensive than a first-class air force is a second-class one that loses. https://lnkd.in/eNSnGHny

"We need to bring our defence industrial base in with us whatever we face in the future," says Royal Air Force (RAF) Director of Capability & Programmes AVM James Beck. Hear him speak about the importance of our defence industrial base here and why an international defence industry is key to support coalition forces and our deterrence effect. https://bit.ly/3Ww8thZ You can replay AVM Beck's session 'One Team, One Fight' from the #GlobalAirSpaceChiefs conference by simply clicking on the On Demand tab of the conference page. All sessions can now be viewed individually, plus there's a Gallery page with images from the conference. Enjoy! https://bit.ly/4aIjvES

It was inevitable that the UK’s Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) was going to come under the microscope as we enter one of the most challenging defence reviews in a generation. Any expenditure that is “uncommitted” is exactly that, and, other than a Minster saying “no comment” to any questions aimed at it, a journalist will always make a headline of ruling it in to be axed if you can’t or don’t rule it out. The “story” is given even more oxygen when: it’s a new government, the programme is international, we are in the midst of the annual airshow frenzy, we face a clear and present threat that warrants action this day, and there are holes everywhere in the UK defence enterprise. The truth about this programme is that all it had before Labour took over is promises. Because the reality is that even 2.5% of GDP spending does not fund GCAP and all the other commitments or things that need fixing - so any lectures from departed politicians ring rather hollow. So where does it stand really. Well there are already some well-developed partnerships (notably a burgeoning one with Japan), not to mention some significant development work that is well-advanced. Which leaves 3 questions: Do we still need it? Can we afford it? Can we afford not to? Do we still need it? Yes. Threats are worsening, becoming more advanced and will continue to do so. In modern conventional warfare, the importance of advantage in the air will increase, not decrease - we cannot stand still and just focus on today’s threats. Can we afford it? Not on the current (inherited) programme and spend profile. To do so requires more money, or less to be spent elsewhere. So the review will need to decide what we can spend less on or stop doing, every bit as much as when we must increase the budget and by how much. Can we afford not to? No. Not only does GCAP provide a primary means to deter future threats, it brings National growth and prosperity through one of our most advanced manufacturing sectors. Perhaps the only question then is whether the MoD should pick up the premium for the latter.

It was an absolute pleasure to speak at this year’s Royal Air Force (RAF) Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference #GASCC2024. Thanks to The Air and Space Power Association (ASPA) for organising such a thought provoking event. Day 1 was recorded here: https://lnkd.in/gXigqPn5 There's a lot to unpack when considering lessons from current conflicts and how space powers can prepare for the future. As space technology is proliferating (within existing actors and extending to new actors), future wars will be fought with a much more active space domain. To try to keep pace, we must reckon with the reality that our success on the battlefield is contingent upon investments made yesterday. There is no time to delay in making space power a top priority. 🛰 Also, if you haven’t had the chance yet, do check out ASPA’s newly launched short book: UK Air & Space Power in a More Dangerous World.’ I highly recommend it as an easy read about key concepts in UK air and space power: https://lnkd.in/gsuGnKT4