In a significant milestone for allied space operations, the United States and United Kingdom have jointly executed a coordinated satellite maneuver aimed at enhancing space domain awareness (SDA) and intelligence-gathering capabilities in geostationary orbit (GEO). This marks the first time both nations have synchronized on-orbit activities involving their respective military satellites.
First Allied Satellite Maneuver Sets New Precedent
On April 23, 2024, the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) and the United Kingdom’s Space Command performed a coordinated maneuver involving two national satellites—one American and one British—in geostationary orbit. The operation was designed to test interoperability frameworks between allied space assets while demonstrating a shared capability to conduct precision orbital maneuvers for SDA missions.
The maneuver involved the U.S. Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellite and the UK’s IOD-3 “Amber” spacecraft—a small ISR-focused satellite developed by Horizon Technologies under the British National Space Strategy. The event was confirmed by both commands as a successful demonstration of integrated command-and-control (C2) processes across coalition partners operating in contested orbital regimes.
Technical Objectives and Operational Context
The primary objective of the maneuver was to validate allied ability to coordinate real-time satellite operations for SDA missions—monitoring objects in GEO such as foreign military satellites or potential threats like co-orbital ASAT systems. GSSAP satellites are optimized for close-proximity inspection of other spacecraft using electro-optical sensors and high-agility propulsion systems. Meanwhile, IOD-3 Amber provides maritime domain awareness via radio frequency (RF) signal detection from ships at sea.
This joint operation tested cross-domain C2 integration between USSPACECOM’s Joint Task Force–Space Defense (JTF-SD) and UK Space Command’s National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC), including secure data-sharing protocols over NATO-compatible networks. According to Lt Gen John E. Shaw (USSF), “This is not just about flying satellites—it’s about building trust in combined operational architectures.”
Strategic Implications for Allied Space Deterrence
The maneuver signals a growing emphasis on coalition-based deterrence strategies in orbit amid rising concerns over adversarial counterspace capabilities from China and Russia. Both nations have fielded proximity operations vehicles—such as Russia’s Cosmos-2543 or China’s Shijian-21—that can shadow or potentially interfere with Western satellites.
By rehearsing joint maneuvers with ISR-enabled platforms like GSSAP and Amber, the U.S. and U.K. aim to project unity of effort in defending critical space infrastructure such as missile warning networks or strategic communications relays hosted on GEO platforms like AEHF or Skynet systems.
- GSSAP: Operated by U.S. Space Force’s Delta 11; supports close inspection of foreign assets in GEO.
- IOD-3 Amber: Launched November 2023; part of UK’s ORCHESTRA program under Defence Intelligence.
- NSpOC: UK’s operational hub for SDA; modeled after JSpOC but tailored for Five Eyes integration.
- C2 Integration: Used Link-16 analogues over SATCOM-secured channels; future upgrades may include STANAG-compliant interfaces for real-time tasking.
A Platform for Future Coalition Operations
This event builds on previous bilateral agreements such as the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed between London and Washington in early 2023 that included provisions for deeper collaboration on SDA technologies, launch infrastructure sharing at sites like RAF Saxa Vord or Cape Canaveral, and co-development of RF sensing payloads.
The success of this maneuver sets a precedent for future multilateral exercises involving Five Eyes partners—particularly Australia’s DEF-1 constellation or Canada’s Sapphire follow-on programs—which could be synchronized into broader SDA frameworks under Combined Space Operations Initiative (CSpO).
Next Steps: Toward Autonomous Coalition C4ISR Networks
The next phase will likely involve integrating AI-enabled analytics platforms capable of fusing EO/IR imagery with RF intercepts from multiple national constellations into a unified common operating picture (COP). Trials are underway within NATO’s Federated Mission Networking–Space environment to support this vision.
The joint US–UK maneuver also serves as an early test case for autonomous orbital traffic coordination tools being developed by DARPA’s COSMOS program and its UK analogues within DSTL’s Project Oberon initiative—both aiming to reduce operator workload while improving real-time threat response timelines during high-tempo operations.
