The Defence in Space 2025 conference brought together defence leaders, space industry pioneers, and policy strategists in London for two days of discussion about the shifting realities of military operations beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Held on 28–29 October 2025 at The Brewery and Kings Place, the event offered a deep dive into how space is transforming from a support function into an operational domain in its own right.
Across more than 20 sessions, experts examined themes including military satellite communications (MilSatCom), space domain awareness (SDA), Earth observation, and the growing challenges of cybersecurity in orbit. The atmosphere was charged with urgency and innovation, as panels unpacked the implications of new orbital architectures, multi-domain operations, and the increasing overlap between government and commercial space activity.
Voices Shaping the Conversation
The conference attracted an impressive line-up of experts and thought leaders. Among the speakers were Brigadier General J.P. Thibert, Director General Military Communications & Space Systems, Canadian Forces; Commodore Tony Williams RN, Head of Space Capability, UK Space Command; and Laryssa Patten, NATO NCIA’s Head of Space Technology Adoption & Resilience.
Industry voices included Ian Canning, President & CEO of Eutelsat Network Solutions; Sam Snir, VP Global Sales & BD at Orbit; Steve Rowland, Head of Global Sales – Secure Connectivity at Airbus; and Daniel Gizinski, President of Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications segment. Other notable participants included Paul Wells and Barry Austin from the UK MOD, Captain Adam “Nobby” Clarke MBE RN, Trevor Beard of Telespazio UK, and Koen Willems from ST Engineering iDirect.
The presence of these experts, alongside innovators like Dr Rich Drake of Anduril Industries and Michael Moran of Kuiper Government Solutions/Amazon, made for dynamic discussion spanning strategy, technology, and operational design.
Industry and innovation
Defence in Space 2025 didn’t just look at policy. It was also a showcase of applied innovation. A “Pitch Your Space Innovation” session hosted by Satellite Applications Catapult spotlighted the next wave of dual-use technologies bridging the gap between military and commercial applications. From hybrid navigation systems to resilient satcom and modular spacecraft design, the event underscored how collaboration between SMEs and major defence contractors is reshaping the industry’s supply chain.
Collaboration as capability
One of the strongest messages to emerge was that capability now depends on ecosystem collaboration. Space operations draw upon expertise in data science, robotics, materials engineering, and human–machine systems. With cyber and physical domains converging, the ability to coordinate across industries and borders is becoming a defining measure of national security readiness.
Looking forward
As geopolitical tensions expand into orbit and beyond, Defence in Space 2025 captured a moment of strategic reflection. The frontier is no longer silent or empty, it’s dynamic, data-driven, and deeply interlinked with every other domain of conflict and cooperation.
The London conference reaffirmed a simple truth: in space, defence isn’t about distance, it’s about awareness. Mastering that awareness, through better systems, smarter design, and integrated thinking, will define the next decade of security and resilience in orbit.
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