Lincoln, UK – British defence startup Shield Space is developing autonomous satellite swarms to protect Western satellites from potential threats in orbit. Founded in 2025 by Graeme Ritchie and Dan Molland, the company plans to deploy groups of up to 100 microwave-sized CubeSats from larger orbital carriers. These small spacecraft would operate with limited ground control and remain functional even if communication with Earth is disrupted.
The project responds to growing concerns about close approaches by foreign satellites. In May 2026, four Russian military satellites reportedly approached ICEYE-X36, a commercial radar satellite supporting Ukraine. In October, another Russian satellite passed within approximately 500 metres of the same spacecraft. Such encounters raise concerns about possible jamming, laser interference and other threats to critical satellites.
Autonomous Satellite Defence System
Shield Space is exploring defensive countermeasures, including lasers, microwaves and kinetic standoff techniques. CEO Graeme Ritchie estimates that deploying 100 defensive CubeSats could cost less than £100 million (approximately $134 million), roughly the price of a single traditional satellite.
The company's first orbital demonstration, Project Broadsword, is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Transporter-21 rideshare mission.
Satellite manufacturer EnduroSat will build the 8U CubeSat, equipped with chemical propulsion and imaging capabilities. It will approach a smaller 3U target spacecraft, demonstrating rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). The test aims to bring the two spacecraft from approximately 100 kilometres apart to within 100 metres.
The mission will test four stages of autonomy, progressing from human-in-the-loop supervision towards nearly fully autonomous operation. Shield Space has completed the mission's critical design review and aims to offer customers an integrated satellite, launch, software and operations package within nine months of contract signing.
Future Plans and Technical Challenges
Following Broadsword, the company plans to develop larger 16U CubeSats, followed by carriers capable of deploying 10 satellites. Its longer-term vision involves multiple carriers operating across different orbits, creating what Ritchie calls a space-based carrier strike capability.
Shield Space raised £2 million in early 2026, led by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II through Mercia Ventures, with participation from other investors. The funding supports recruitment, facilities and the first orbital demonstration. The company has also launched the UK Space Superiority Coalition with other British space firms to advance autonomy, propulsion, space-domain awareness and defensive technologies.
However, significant technical challenges remain. CubeSats face strict size, weight and power limitations, restricting their propulsion, sensors and onboard computing. Developing reliable AI autonomy also requires large amounts of operational data, which is difficult to reproduce through laboratory simulations alone.
Bleddyn Bowen, an astropolitics professor at Durham University, compared the concept with the Cold War-era Brilliant Pebbles interceptor programme. He also highlighted the need for careful development to prevent hazardous orbital debris and secure long-term financial commitments from defence customers.
If Project Broadsword succeeds, Shield Space could advance the development of smaller, lower-cost autonomous systems for protecting military and commercial satellites in contested orbits.
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