The Royal Air Force (RAF) has officially activated No. III Space Effects Squadron, marking a strategic shift for the United Kingdom from passively monitoring orbital threats to actively defending its critical satellite infrastructure.

Announced on September 23, 2026, at the inaugural UK Space Power Conference in London, the new unit is the first of its kind for the UK military. According to an RAF press release, the squadron will utilize advanced technologies, including electronic warfare, to disrupt, degrade, and deny hostile actions against British satellites. These orbital assets are essential for guiding maritime navigation, connecting mobile networks, and supporting early missile warning systems.

Strategic shift in orbital defense

The formation of No. III Space Effects Squadron completes a specialized triad within the RAF space command structure. It complements the existing No. I Space Operations Squadron and No. II Space Warning Squadron, which are primarily tasked with tracking orbital assets and identifying potential threats. The new unit transitions the military posture toward active deterrence and defense.

“Space no longer supports operations from the sidelines. It is a domain of direct competition, where our military advantage can be won or lost. No. III Space Effects Squadron will safeguard the vital benefits that space gives to our integrated armed forces, and will be capable of denying those benefits to our adversaries,” stated Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff.

The squadron will operate under the broader umbrella of UK Space Command, integrating its electronic warfare capabilities with existing intelligence and surveillance networks to protect both offensive and defensive space operations.

Funding and the UK Space Strategy

The squadron launch aligns with the updated UK Space Strategy published by the government on September 8, 2026. The strategy commits £7.8 billion to the domestic space sector through 2030, placing national security and defense at the center of the policy. Within this framework, £880 million is specifically allocated between the 2026/2027 and 2029/2030 financial years for space-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and space control activities.

Speaking at the conference, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the historical context of the new domain and the necessity of the investment.

“Britain has to keep pace in the new space race. Control of the waves was the essential ingredient in 19th century deterrence. That is why Britain built the finest naval power in history. In the 20th century it was control of the skies, and so we built a world class air force to protect us,” Streeting said.

Streeting added that the dependency on space infrastructure makes it a growing target for adversaries. He noted that challenges in orbit increasingly mirror terrestrial geopolitics, requiring the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to modernize its armed forces to deter and defeat threats in any domain.

AirPro News analysis

The activation of No. III Space Effects Squadron represents a necessary maturation of the UK military space apparatus. As reliance on satellite constellations for secure communications, precision navigation, and early warning systems deepens, the ability to actively protect these assets becomes non-negotiable. By explicitly naming electronic warfare and the capability to deny benefits to adversaries, the MoD is signaling a readiness to engage in non-kinetic orbital defense. We view this development as a clear indicator that European and NATO-aligned forces are accelerating their Space-Agencies control capabilities to match the rapid advancements demonstrated by rival nations in recent years.

Sources: Royal Air Force

Embraer delivered the first of two C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft to the Uzbekistan Air Force on September 25, 2026, marking the platform’s entry into the Central Asian market. The handover took place at the manufacturer’s facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil.

In a press release issued to mark the delivery, Embraer confirmed the aircraft will modernize Uzbekistan’s military airlift capabilities. The C-390 Millennium is slated to replace the country’s legacy Soviet-era transport platforms, taking on roles that include logistics, aerial delivery, and humanitarian relief operations.

Airframe reassignment and production history

The specific aircraft delivered to Uzbekistan bears registration UK39010 and Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 39000019. According to reporting by Air Data News, the airframe has a unique production history. It was originally allocated to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira) as FAB 2861.

The airframe became available for export reassignment following a November 2023 agreement between Embraer and the Brazilian government. That agreement reduced Brazil’s total C-390 order from 22 to 19 aircraft, down from an initial commitment of 28.

Uzbekistan originally signed a contract for two C-390 aircraft in December 2024 as an undisclosed customer. Embraer officially revealed the buyer at the Singapore Airshow on February 3, 2026. The aircraft completed its first flight from Gavião Peixoto on August 6, 2026, using the test registration PT-CYQ, before being publicly presented in full Uzbekistan Air Force livery on September 10, 2026.

Expanding international footprint and capabilities

The C-390 Millennium features a maximum payload capacity of 26 metric tons and a maximum cruise speed of 470 knots. These specifications position the twin-engine jet as a direct competitor to established turboprop transports in the tactical airlift segment.

The delivery to Uzbekistan represents continued export momentum for the C-390 program. Embraer has secured a series of international selections and orders in recent years. In August 2026, Colombia acquired the KC-390 Millennium variant. Other nations that have selected the platform include Sweden, South Korea, Austria, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.

Embraer highlighted the regional significance of the handover during a presentation earlier in the month, as reported by Janes.

“Today, Embraer presents the first C-390 Millennium aircraft of the Uzbekistan Air Force, making the Republic of Uzbekistan the first C-390 customer in Central Asia.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the delivery of MSN 39000019 as a strategic win for Embraer’s defense division, demonstrating the manufacturer’s ability to pivot production slots efficiently. By reallocating an airframe originally destined for the Brazilian Air Force, Embraer accelerated the delivery timeline for a new international customer. This agility is critical as the company works to capture market share from aging Soviet-era fleets like the Antonov An-12 and An-32, as well as Western platforms like the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules. Securing a foothold in Central Asia also opens potential avenues for further regional sales as neighboring air forces evaluate their own modernization requirements.

Sources: Embraer

South Korea’s indigenous fighter program transitioned from development to operational service on September 22, 2026, with the delivery of the first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae Block I to the Republic of Korea Air Forces (ROKAF).

The milestone, announced in a joint press release by ROKAF and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), culminates a 25-year effort to field a domestically developed advanced fighter. Aircraft No. 001 was flown from the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) manufacturing plant in Sacheon to Yecheon Air Base in North Gyeongsang Province.

Delivery and escort flight

The inaugural operational sortie was piloted by Maj. Han Jae-seok of the 156th Fighter Squadron. During the transit flight, the KF-21 was escorted by an FA-50 light attack aircraft, a TA-50 fighter trainer, and a T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainer. According to Yonhap News Agency, this formation was designed to symbolize the generational progression of South Korea’s indigenous military-aircraft aviation industry.

ROKAF Chief of Staff Gen. Son Sug-rag emphasized the significance of the handover, describing the delivery as a historic milestone in achieving self-reliant national defense.

Overcoming numerous trials and hardships, the KF-21 was handed over to the Air Force today and commenced flight operations. Up until yesterday was the time for the Boramae project’s policymakers and developers. From today onward, it is the Air Force’s time.

Fleet integration and production timeline

The aircraft will be operated by the 156th Fighter Squadron, which ROKAF reactivated on June 1, 2026. The squadron previously operated F-4E Phantom II fighters before being disbanded in 2012, according to reporting by Janes.

DAPA awarded KAI a $1.4 billion contract in June 2024 to begin production of the first 20 Block I jets. Breaking Defense reports that ROKAF expects delivery of 40 Block I aircraft by 2028, followed by 80 Block II aircraft by 2032, bringing the total planned KF-21 fleet to 120 airframes. The platform is expected to be declared fully combat operational in the second half of 2027.

Development and testing milestones

South Korea first announced plans to develop an indigenous advanced fighter in March 2001. Full-scale system development formally began in December 2015, and KAI rolled out the first prototype in April 2021.

Before achieving combat suitability certification on May 7, 2026, the KF-21 program completed 1,600 flight tests covering 13,000 test conditions, according to AeroMorning. The transition to mass production was authorized in June 2024 following the successful completion of these initial testing phases.

AirPro News analysis

We view the delivery of the first production KF-21 as a critical step in South Korea’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign defense contractors and modernize its tactical air fleet. The Boramae will replace the ROKAF’s aging fleets of F-4E Phantom II and F-5 fighters, providing a bridge between fourth-generation platforms and the fifth-generation F-35.

While minor discrepancies exist in open-source reporting regarding the specific tail number painted on the first jet, with sources citing both 26-001 and 25-001, all official documentation confirms this airframe as production aircraft No. 001. The successful transition from prototype to production within five years of rollout demonstrates significant maturation in KAI’s manufacturing capabilities and sets a firm foundation for the planned Block II upgrades.

Sources: Republic of Korea Air Force