UK Defense Secretary Fumbles Cost of New RAF 'Space Force'

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was left red-faced during a broadcast interview on Thursday when he admitted he did not know the cost of a newly announced Royal Air Force (RAF) unit intended to operate in space.

The squadron, officially named No III Space Effects Squadron, is designed to protect satellites crucial for missile attack warnings, communications, and navigation.

When asked by LBC presenter Nick Ferrari about the deployment numbers and funding for the unit, Streeting initially stated, "We're talking initially in terms of this new unit, tens of people." He elaborated that this would be sufficient "to run the command."

However, when pressed for the financial details of the initiative, Streeting stammered, "Well I don't have the figures to hand, unusually for me this morning..." He added that he did not have "instant recall on that off the top of my head," despite the government's stated commitment to increasing investment in space.

Ferrari informed Streeting that the broader UK space sector is slated to receive £7.8 billion in funding through 2030, with £2.8 billion allocated to the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit and Skynet defense communications program. Streeting sheepishly acknowledged the figure, joking, "I think that sounds right to me," and admitting, "I'm kicking myself because you always try to catch us out on facts."

The announcement of the new unit follows the release of a government strategy aimed at bolstering defenses against space-based threats. SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland is set to receive an additional £30 million in support as part of this strategy.

Streeting stated that adversaries are developing capabilities to disrupt and harm interests in space, necessitating the deployment of new capabilities for deterrence and disruption. He described the initiative as the "latest iteration of what has been a long-running space race."