Babcock secures UK Military Skynet satellite contract

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 21 February 2023 10:31

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Write a comment

Space Coast FL (SPX) Feb 16, 2023

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded Babcock International Group a six-year contract to manage and operate Skynet, the MOD's military satellite communications system, on February 15. The contract is called Skynet Service Delivery Wrap (SDW), it is valued at 400 million pounds ($486.6 million), and it is expected to support 400 jobs in Corsham, Bristol, and Plymouth, U

Babcock secures UK Military Skynet satellite contract
by Charles Briggs
Space Coast FL (SPX) Feb 16, 2023

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded Babcock International Group a six-year contract to manage and operate Skynet, the MOD's military satellite communications system, on February 15.

The contract is called Skynet Service Delivery Wrap (SDW), it is valued at 400 million pounds ($486.6 million), and it is expected to support 400 jobs in Corsham, Bristol, and Plymouth, UK.

SDW is a part of the MOD's 6 billion pound Skynet 6 satellite communications program aimed at delivering battlefield communications to British and allied forces operating around the world. Skynet 6 is currently being built by Airbus and is set to be launched in 2025 and become operational in 2028.

Babcock is a British aerospace, defense, and nuclear engineering services company based in London, England.

David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock, said, "We are delighted to have been chosen to support this world-leading technological safeguard. Skynet enables vital communications to the UK Armed Forces wherever they are, helping to keep them safe."

"Babcock is a world leader in secure communications for the military. Together with our partners, we will provide a high-tech solution which combines the availability, affordability and capability that the UK needs." he added.

Babcock will partner with SES, GovSat, and Intelsat to manage and operate the current fleet of four Skynet 5 satellites, all built by Airbus.

The rival bidders for the SDW contract are Lockheed Martin UK, which partnered with a Serco-led consortium comprising CGI and Inmarsat, as well as British Telecommunications (BT), Viasat, and Airbus Defense and Space, who partnered with KBR, Leidos, Northrop Grumman, and QinetiQ.