Europe’s Airbus Defence and Space and US-headquartered defence contractor Northrop Grumman announced on 23 October 2023 the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and foster a strategic partnership in military satellite communications for the UK’s future wideband Skynet military satellite communications (satcoms) programme.
The agreement between the two companies will bring together their latest technology to address military satellite communication requirements for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Airbus and Northrop Grumman say the partnership is vitally important as military forces increasingly use space-based assets to fulfil their missions and require specialised technology to transmit information via space. The two companies will be teaming up to offer the UK the very latest military satellite communication technologies and ensure they are always connected and able to process the increasing amount of data collected and disseminated on the ground, in the air, at sea and in orbit.
Ben Bridge, UK Chairman of Airbus Defence and Space, was quoted by the company as saying: “Partnering with Northrop Grumman will enable us to address the evolving requirements of Britain’s military satellite communications’ needs, and we believe our joint expertise offers the very best capabilities for the UK, now and in the future.
“This transatlantic collaboration builds on the strong Airbus and Northrop Grumman relationship and further unites UK, European and American interests in space,” he added.
Troy Brashear, vice president of National Security Systems for Northrop Grumman Space Systems, was quoted as saying: “This partnership with Airbus brings together the very best of the US, UK and European space industries. The team will provide our customers with innovative, reliable and affordable military satellite communications technology to meet the rapidly evolving requirements of today’s environment.”
In June 2023 the UK MoD invited industry to respond to a pre-pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) for the Skynet Enduring Capability Wideband Satellite System (SKEC WSS).
The MoD’s GBP 6 Bn (EUR 6.91 Bn) Skynet 6 programme is expected to see the first satellite of the sixth-generation system launched in 2025.
Airbus Defence and Space, through its subsidiary Paradigm Secure Communications, is already a Skynet provider, having been awarded a private finance initiative contract worth around GBP 4 Bn by the UK MoD in October 2003 to provide Skynet 5 satellite services up to 2020.
