Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to require the design, manufacture and testing of future military satellite communications used by the Armed Forces to be done in the UK.

Future military satellite communications are being secured though a programme called SKYNET 6. The Ministry of Defence has already contracted UK companies to develop the first new satellite (Airbus Defence & Space Ltd) and to provide ground and flight control services for the entire constellation (a consortium led by Babcock).

Subsequent SKYNET satellites are being acquired through two separate competitive procurements. The first of these is for a more widely available Narrowband Satellite System, and thus it is being procured via an open competition. The second is for up to three highly technological wideband satellites. There is a clear requirement in the competition invite that the key design, manufacture and testing activities for the wideband satellites are undertaken in the UK, in accordance with the aims of the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (publishing.service.gov.uk).