Shield Space, a rising UK defence tech company, has secured £2 million in funding. It will fuel the company’s mission of protecting satellites from jamming, interference and targeted attacks. 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.
With this funding, Shield Space plans to expand into new premises in Lincoln, build a team of five additional specialists and prepare its first test flight in early 2027. It marks a crucial step in validating autonomous safeguarding for future military and commercial fleets.
Rising threats in orbit demand faster protection
Space may appear calm from Earth, but orbit has become a crowded and increasingly hostile environment. Satellite jamming incidents continue to increase every year, disrupting essential services and exposing vulnerabilities in global infrastructure. Alongside electronic interference, there is the much more direct concern of physical attacks on satellites by hostile powers.
UK Space Command estimates that 220 counterspace systems, capable of damaging or destroying satellites, are already active in orbit. Space debris multiplies the danger, creating unpredictable hazards that can cripple critical assets in seconds.
Despite this growing threat landscape, today’s satellite response systems still depend heavily on ground-based teams. If a satellite needs to move out of harm’s way, operators must detect the threat, coordinate a response, and then issue manoeuvre commands. This lag can be the difference between survival and catastrophic loss. Shield Space’s technology aims to eliminate that delay entirely.
Autonomous guidance to keep satellites alive
Shield Space is developing autonomous guidance systems designed to help satellites identify risks and evade them instantly. Instead of waiting for instructions from Earth, spacecraft would use onboard decision-making to assess threats and manoeuvre in real time.
This capability could transform space security. Automated threat response allows satellites to slip out of danger, whether from jamming attempts, hostile approaches or drifting debris, long before ground operators would even register the issue. The ambition is to give allied nations and commercial operators a resilient, self-protecting network of spacecraft that can endure in increasingly contested orbits.
Soldier–scientists behind the vision
Shield Space’s strength lies in its unusual DNA as a soldier–scientist organisation. The company was founded in 2025 by Graeme Ritchie and Dan Molland, who met while working at UK Space Command. Both bring deeply complementary backgrounds shaped by operational defence roles and advanced technical work.
Ritchie, the company’s CEO, is a former RAF defence technology specialist with experience deploying cutting-edge systems in real-world scenarios. He also founded Shield UAS Solutions, a consultancy focused on drone operations. Molland, the CTO, specialises in launch integration and has contributed to payloads flown on SpaceX and NASAmissions. This expertise becomes vital when designing systems destined for the harshest environments humans operate in.
Shield Space specialises in developing space control and counterspace systems intended for NATO and allied defence customers. Its mission is to secure access to the orbital infrastructure that underpins everything from military operations to everyday civil services.
Graeme Ritchie, CEO, said: “Much of modern life depends on space – our adversaries understand this and deliberately exploit uncertainty and delay. 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.”
Dan Molland, CTO, said: “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. We aim to make the UK safer and stronger and establish its reputation as a credible space power.”
Amrit Sami of Mercia Ventures added: “As we embark on the start of a new space age, protecting our space assets has become a national priority. 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, said: “Backing start-ups in the manufacturing and technology sectors is a key priority for the British Business Bank. 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. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we are pleased to help companies access the capital they need through our investment funds.”
