News

Airbus has been awarded the Skynet Design Support Contract (SDSC) to provide design authority services support for the UK’s Skynet 5 military satellite communications systems. This contract will provide post-design services to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and its future service providers, in order to support Skynet 5, which was procured under a Private Finance Initiative arrangement starting in 2003. Additionally, Airbus will support the transition towards an MoD-owned, contractor-operated system under Skynet 6, including the development of Skynet 6A.

Airbus was previously awarded the contract by the UK MoD to design and build Skynet 6A in July 2020. The programme achieved its Preliminary Design Review in December of the same year. The new contract is set to run from March 2024 for a duration of five years. It encompasses both the satellites and the necessary ground infrastructure.

MoD director Delivery (Intelligence and Expeditionary Services), Steven Fisher, expressed that the SDSC is a demonstration of their ongoing commitment to maintaining the Skynet 5 system. He also noted that this contract is a crucial first step in their program to replace and replenish their space-based assets.

These developments highlight Airbus’ significant role in supporting the UK’s military satellite communications systems. With the Skynet Design Support Contract in place, Airbus will continue to provide essential design authority services, aiding in the maintenance and advancement of the Skynet 5 and future Skynet 6 systems.

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