BRITAIN is gearing up to deploy AI bodyguard satellites in space as fears grow over Vladimir Putin’s sabre-rattling intergalactic attack plans.
Fully autonomous fighter pilot satellites are being developed by the West as the first line of defence against Russia should they continue to target crucial space assets.
Leading the defensive developments are the space technology specialists at Lodestar.
They have plans to create a series of bodyguard satellites up in space which are powered by AI-fighter pilot jets.
Russia has been accused of stalking military satellites belonging to several international space agencies since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Head of the UK Space Command, Major General Paul Tedman, has accused Moscow of actively attempting to disrupt the UK’s space-based assets through constant manipulation tactics.
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These major incidents are taking place every week, Tedman added.
Germany’s Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, blasted Russia for shadowing satellites used by the military in September.
Concerns have also been flagged by the US after a secretive Russian “killer satellite” was detected launching another mysterious flying object near an American spacecraft.
Serious questions are now being asked over what the West can do to stop Russia’s astral disruptions.
Lodestar’s satellites will be placed in close proximity to critical national security assets in orbit and will be able to detect and defend against any threats, such as missiles or trackers.
Co-ordinated swarm manoeuvres could even be seen with Lodestar hoping to one day create a hive mind of protective satellites above Earth.
Each bodyguard satellite will run with the help of AI autonomy software made by Mithril, meaning they can be seamlessly used without the need for a human operator.
Neil Buchanan, Lodestar’s co-founder and CEO, says along with actively fighting any targets, the satellites will be able to inspect and repair the assets they are protecting.
Another key feature will be the data these orbital bodyguards can feedback to Earth.
Each one will be equipped with a camera which can show who is meddling in space – whether it be the Kremlin or even China.
Neil compared it to space’s version of a Ring doorbell in its simplest form.
He added that the main goal is to help Britain and its allies in space so they can continue to operate at full capacity on the ground.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Evan Davis: “We’re at that sabre rattling point and where we go next is being able to not just see what’s going on but actually doing something about it.”
Space satellites are among the most crucial pieces of technology used by governments due to how much the globe relies on them.
They are needed to help power communication devices such as TVs and phones, provide internet services and are also used for navigation purposes such as GPS on cars and planes.
In the modern world, one of their greatest purposes is for military reconnaissance and defence.
As they orbit Earth the satellites send back data which can be used to detect early warning signs of major enemy attacks through tracking the buildup of troops or even weapons in a particular area.
Spotting a looming attack early is crucial for preventing a catastrophe such as a nuclear strike.
This makes satellites vitally important to protect – but also a major target for tyrants like Putin.
Buchanan said space security has been overlooked by many Western nations but he is glad it is now being seen as a priority.
Will space be the first battlefield of WW3?
TENSIONS in space have been brewing for years now with experts fearing it could become the first battlefield of World War Three.
A growing militarisation by major powers such as Russia and China have provoked allied nations such as the US, UK and Germany.
Nato has already stated that space is now an operational war-fighting domain.
They now have over 200 anti-satellite weapons already in orbit.
But this still fails to compete with Russia and China who are leading in developing space weaponry.
This includes anti-satellite missiles, laser systems, and cyber warfare tools.
Many of which are aimed at threatening critical satellite infrastructure used for communication, navigation, and defence.
But in 2023, US intelligence chiefs warned that Russia is planning to launch nukes into space that would destroy satellites in a “grave” threat to the world’s security.
Military experts warned that Putin would take the “suicidal” decision to launch the deadly weapons if he felt his grip on power was being threatened by Ukraine and the West.
He told TechCrunch: “There are some fundamental issues to do with space security that we just don’t have, at least in Europeto match what countries like China and Russia are doing.
“We realised there was something really important we could do for national security right now that would help enable future commerce in space.”
Lodestar have already been awarded UK Space Agency funding through its International Bilateral Fund.
They plan to run major ground tests in partnership with University College London and US firm Impulse Space in the near future.
Lodestar’s other co-founder Thomas Santini told Payload about working with the national space agency: “UK Space Command [is] looking for more and more space control. It’s their number one priority.
“And so, for us as a company, we see that as our first real opportunity to go after. The first real problem to solve.”
Short-term hopes for Lodestar developers are to create several microwave-sized satellites to send up into orbit.
As their research continues and the space sector advances, Buchanan says the ultimate goal is to make these bodyguards the size of a family car.