Rethinking Defence Satellite Resilience: Why Manoeuvrability is Becoming Mission Critical in Contested Space

Space based capability now sits at the centre of modern defence. From intelligence gathering to secure communications and missile warning, military operations depend on satellites that must remain available during tension, crisis and conflict.

That confidence is eroding as satellites become easier to track, follow and disrupt. Tracking networks are more persistent, commercial orbital data is more accessible, and counterspace capabilities are becoming more sophisticated. High value military satellites can be observed, followed and disrupted with growing precision. The concern is not only whether a satellite remains functional in orbit. The real question is whether it can continue supporting the mission when its movements are being monitored and its signals are at risk.

The session will examine how future military spacecraft should be designed, procured and operated in a contested domain. The discussion will position manoeuvre not as a technical feature, but as an operational capability that underpins survivability, deterrence and mission assurance. It will deep dive into the upcoming technologies that can be integrated together to make defence space assets harder to target and easier to protect.