UK defense tech startup Shield Space raises £2M in funding to protect satellites from jamming and attacks

Space is becoming a contested domain, and Shield Space wants to ensure the UK is ready. The British defense tech startup has raised £2 million to test its autonomous satellite protection system in orbit, marking a major step toward real-time space defense.

The round was led by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II through Mercia Ventures, with participation from Twin Path Ventures, ROI Ventures, and P3A Ventures. The funding will support the company’s first orbital test flight, planned for early 2027.

Shield Space is building AI-driven guidance systems that enable satellites to spot threats and move out of harm’s way without waiting for Earth-based commands. That speed matters. Satellite jamming incidents rise every year, and hostile actors are developing new ways to disrupt or destroy space infrastructure. UK Space Command estimates that there are now 220 counterspace systems in orbit capable of damaging satellites. Space debris adds another layer of risk.

Right now, most satellites rely on ground teams to manage their movements. That process can take minutes or longer, which is often too slow during an active threat. Shield Space’s technology removes that delay by letting satellites react instantly on their own.

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The stakes are high. According to UK government data, roughly a fifth of the country’s economy, around £450 billion, depends on space-based services like GPS, communications, and navigation. Space assets are now considered critical national infrastructure.

The company was founded in 2025 by Graeme Ritchie and Dan Molland, who met while working at UK Space Command. Ritchie, now CEO, previously served as an RAF defence technology specialist and founded drone consultancy Shield UAS Solutions. Molland, the CTO, has worked on launch integration projects tied to SpaceX and NASA missions.

The new funding will help Shield Space move into larger offices in Lincoln, hire five new employees, and prepare for its first in-orbit test.

“Much of modern life depends on space – our adversaries understand this and deliberately exploit uncertainty and delay,” Ritchie said. “Our ambition is to give the UK, NATO and its allies sovereign space capabilities to operate decisively in contested environments. Space will have its Battle of Britain moment, just as air power did in 1940. Establishing our operations in the Midlands and growing our team is critical to ensure we are ready when that moment arrives.”

Molland sees another benefit beyond security. “Shield Space will not only help secure space, but also deliver significant cost savings by enabling satellites to respond in real time without access to space networks or costly operational teams,” he said. “We aim to make the UK safer and stronger and establish its reputation as a credible space power.”

Investors view satellite protection as a growing national priority. “As we embark on the start of a new space age, protecting our space assets has become a national priority,” said Amrit Sami of Mercia Ventures. “Shield Space is addressing this challenge. We are proud to be leading this investment, which will enable the team to accelerate development and ultimately to enhance the security of the UK and its NATO allies.”

Louis Taylor, CEO of the British Business Bank, highlighted the regional impact. “Backing start-ups in the manufacturing and technology sectors is a key priority for the British Business Bank,” he said. “Shield Space’s technology has the potential to safeguard strategic assets in space, and this latest funding will support its first flight launch. It is encouraging to see the Greater Lincolnshire Mayor’s commitment to helping businesses in the region to start up, scale up, and grow.”

The £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II supports startups across the region with equity funding of up to £5 million and debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million. Its mission is to boost innovation, create jobs, and expand access to early-stage capital for companies that often struggle to secure funding.

For Shield Space, the next milestone is clear: prove its system works in orbit. If successful, the company could play a central role in shaping how governments protect the satellites modern economies depend on.