What Happened
Lockheed Martin And Airbus Compete For Lucrative Contract
The UK Ministry of Defence has denied making a final decision on the £2.4 billion Skynet satellite acquisition, despite reports that Lockheed Martin has been selected for the contract. The decision has sparked a fierce political debate over British jobs, manufacturing capacity, and the future of the country’s domestic space industry. The Skynet Wideband Satellite System procurement is part of the broader Skynet 6 Enduring Capability program, which aims to replace and expand existing constellation with two tranches of satellites in geostationary Earth orbit. The contract award may have significant implications for the UK’s relationships with European allies and its participation in the planned European space merger, as reported by Breaking Defense.