Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2005 to Questions 50084 on Defence: Space Technology, what role Northern Ireland will play in the delivery of a refreshed Defence Space Strategy.

As the Strategic Defence Review highlights, Space is critical for the UK’s national infrastructure and central to future defence operations. In line with the Government’s wider industrial strategy, Defence is collaborating closely with partners across Government, industry, academia, and civil society to build a strong and resilient UK space sector.

Northern Ireland contributes significantly to the UK’s space technology sector through its advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity capabilities. These strengths contribute to the UK’s capacity for space innovation, security, and industrial excellence.

The forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will highlight capabilities deemed critical to national security, supply chain resilience, and economic growth for the UK more broadly. Space has been identified as an important area of strategic interest to Defence.