UK planning cyber ‘target' satellite to test vulnerabilities

A concept graphic of a Skynet satellite. (Airbus)

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is in concept development for a so-called “hack-a-sat” target satellite that would be used under its GBP14 million (USD18.9 million) security, sustainability, and resilience activities fund to test for vulnerabilities in hacking and cyber attack, according to the UK Space Strategy published on 8 September 2026.

As well as identifying weak points, industry-led exercises would be aimed at assessing satellite cyber security countermeasures through the hack-a-sat, the strategy says.

Overall spending

The UK Space Strategy is backed by GBP7.8 billion committed through to 2029/30. Some GBP880 million will be spent on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and space control activities. The funding will be used for enhancing awareness of space activities and protection of critical national assets in orbit and deep space advanced radar capability. The latter includes investment to deliver a global network of ground radars to enhance awareness of objects in deep space and orbit. According to the Space Strategy document, this capability will be jointly operated with the US and Australia.

The UK government is allocating GBP2.3 billion in funding through to 2029/30 for military satellite communication (satcom) services for the UK Armed Forces. The funding forms part of the UK's wider GBP2.8 billion satcom allocation, which also includes GBP429 million for industrial development through R&D funding and GBP75 million for public services satcom.

The GBP2.8 billion includes funding for connectivity in low Earth orbit (LEO) and Skynet defence communications programmes, according to an 8 September UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) press release. The Space Strategy document states that the UK will maintain “a hybrid strategy” that will include Skynet, allied collaborations, and commercial services.

Four subsectors