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The UK military and Space Agency are set to bolster their satellite monitoring and protection capabilities through the Borealis command, control and data processing system.
This cutting-edge software will rapidly compile and analyse data from multiple sources, improving the UK’s ability to track and safeguard space assets.
A £65 million (AU$133.9 million) contract has been awarded to CGI UK, a specialist in IT systems integration. The deal will support around 100 skilled jobs in Leatherhead, Reading, and Bristol, strengthening the UK’s space sector while contributing to the government’s Plan for Change.
Borealis will enhance the UK military’s understanding of the space domain, improving decision making for military commanders and supporting operations both domestically and abroad.
Under a five-year contract, the system will provide software for the National Space Operations Centre, which oversees the UK’s space surveillance and protection efforts. As a uniquely British innovation, Borealis will play a critical role in global military operations.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle MP highlighted the significance of the investment, saying, “This new deal delivers for our national security by enhancing protection for our satellite technology that millions rely on, while boosting jobs and growth at home.”
Borealis will improve the UK’s ability to monitor and protect vital space assets that underpin national security and economic stability. These assets are crucial for ocean navigation, military safety, climate monitoring and weather forecasting.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Space domain awareness: Borealis will enhance the UK’s capacity to monitor activity in Earth’s orbit, including tracking space weather, space debris and active satellites.
- Protection of UK space assets: The system will integrate all data related to UK satellites into a single platform, giving UK Space Command a clearer picture of what is happening in space and enabling better protection of critical infrastructure.
- Integrated Command and Control (C2) System: The system will provide government and military commanders with timely, decision-quality information through an interoperable platform that operates across different security classifications.
Major General Paul Tedman, Commander of UK Space Command, emphasised the importance of the system, saying, “Borealis is an innovative system that draws together multiple inputs to enhance the UK government’s understanding of the wide-ranging activity on orbit, allowing the UK to protect not just our own space assets, but those of our allies and partners as well.”
CGI, a leading provider of independent IT services for defence customers in the UK, Australia, Canada and the USA, will work with a network of expert partners to deliver the project.
Neil Timms, senior vice president of space, defence and intelligence UK and Australia at CGI, described Borealis as a crucial step in the UK’s space strategy, adding, “We’re proud to support UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency through the delivery of Borealis. We believe this is a strategic step towards establishing a more holistic approach to the UK’s national space data architecture, with Borealis and the National Space Operations Centre at its heart.”
This investment reaffirms the UK’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities, ensuring stronger national security and supporting global defence cooperation.
