Six-Year £400 Million Contract Sustains 400+ Jobs
Babcock International is to operate the UK’s £6 billion Skynet 6 military satcom system for the UK’s MoD under a six-year contract valued at £400 million, the company announced on 15 February.
The contract, which commences in March, will sustain over 400 jobs and involves Babcock partnering with SES, GovSat and Intelsat on Skynet SDW [Service Delivery Wrap], which encompasses operation of the satellite constellation and associated ground stations, including integration of terminals into the MoD network, and their ongoing support. “Skynet enables vital communications to the UK armed forces, wherever they are, helping to keep them safe […] Together with our partners, we will provide a high-tech solution which combines the availability, affordability and capability that the UK needs,” stated Babcock CEO, David Lockwood.
“Space is increasingly important for maintaining battlefield advantage […] The UK’s next-generation military satellite communications system will keep us at the forefront of this critical domain and the work under this contract will bolster our resilience for years to come,” added Alex Chalk, Defence Procurement Minister.
The Skynet constellation has been in service since the 1960s, while the first 6th-generation satellite, Skynet 6A, set to be launched in 2025. The contract includes services necessary to support the current Skynet infrastructure, as well as the successful transition and continuous delivery of service for future Skynet operations.
Babcock and partners bring the stability, knowledge, and pedigree of a proven service provider with the leading commercial and military satellite operators to provide best-in-class solutions. Backed by its unique, collective international experience across defence and satcom operations, the partnership will provide a low-risk, uninterrupted service, which brings an assured end-to-end approach for the MoD.
