The funding will enable Shield Space to advance its autonomous satellite defence technology, expand its operations and team, and prepare for its first orbital test flight as it moves toward in-orbit deployment.
Shield Space, a defence technology startup developing systems to protect satellites from signal jamming and other threats, has raised £2 million to support its first orbital test flight. The round was led by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II via Mercia Ventures, with participation from Twin Path Ventures, ROI Ventures, and P3A Ventures.
Space assets are widely regarded as critical national infrastructure, supporting services such as communications and navigation. At the same time, incidents of satellite jamming have increased in recent years, alongside concerns about direct attacks by hostile actors. Additional risks include the rising number of counterspace systems in orbit and the growing volume of space debris.
Founded in 2025, Shield Space is developing autonomous, AI-driven guidance systems that allow satellites to detect potential threats and manoeuvre to safety without requiring intervention from ground-based teams. This approach is intended to address growing risks in orbit, where response times are often constrained by reliance on manual control from Earth.
Graeme Ritchie, CEO of Shield Space, said that space infrastructure underpins many aspects of modern life and that adversaries are increasingly seeking to take advantage of uncertainty and slow response times in orbit:
Our ambition is to give the UK, NATO and its allies sovereign space capabilities to operate decisively in contested environments.
The new funding will support Shield Space’s next stage of development, including preparations for its first orbital test flight.
The company plans to use the capital to advance its autonomous AI guidance technology, establish new premises in Lincoln, and expand its team, strengthening its operational capabilities as it moves toward in-orbit testing.