Skynet (satellite)

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates

Skynet is a family of military communications satellites, now operated by Babcock International on behalf of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=dn-20230215/> They provide strategic and tactical communication services to the branches of the British Armed Forces, the British intelligence agencies, some UK government departments and agencies, and to allied governments. Since 2015 when Skynet coverage was extended eastward, and in conjunction with an Anik G1 satellite module over America, Skynet offers near global coverage.<ref name=ukspace-20160914/>

The Skynet contract allows Airbus Defence and Space to sell surplus bandwidth, through the Skynet partner programme, to NATO and allied governments, including the Five Eyes intelligence alliance members (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States).<ref name=ukspace-20160914/> As of 2020, seven Skynet satellites are operating, plus Anik G1.

The Skynet 1 to 4 series were developed and operated by the Signals Research and Development Establishment, Royal Signals and Radar Establishment and Royal Air Force until 2003.<ref name=rafmuseum-20170630/> It was subsequently operated with Skynet 5 by Paradigm Secure Communications until October 2012, when the organisation was rebranded to Astrium Services then through merger in 2015 became Airbus Defence and Space.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The MOD is currently specifying a new architecture for Skynet to replace the Skynet 5 system, whose funding programme ended in August 2022. The vision for Skynet 6 is a flexible system architecture that combines UK government, allied and commercial satellites, including the current Skynet 5 satellites.<ref name=spacenews-20181106/><ref name=bbc-20200720/> Skynet is the large part of the MOD Future Beyond Line of Sight satellite communications programme (FBLOS), which extends to 2041, with expected transition costs of about £6 billion. Template:TOC limit

History

In the 1960s, only two countries had communication satellites, the United States and the Soviet Union. The United Kingdom created Skynet as its own military communications satellite system, because of inadequate undersea communications cable availability and to increase flexibility, reliability, data capacity and security.<ref name="Aldrich-2011,347-348" >Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=rsre-198704/> The Signals Research and Development Establishment led the development of Skynet 1 and 2, and its successor Royal Signals and Radar Establishment carried out research for the development of the subsequent satellites and ground terminals.<ref name=mraths-201807>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=rsre-198901>Template:Cite report</ref>

The MOD space communications research programme began in 1962, initially considering Moon and space debris bounce techniques, before considering a UK satellite. In 1964, it was decided Skynet should be in geostationary orbit over the Indian Ocean, significantly to support East of Suez deployments, and have a transponder with two channels permitting communications between two types of ground station. This would be an advance over the ongoing U.S. Initial Defense Communication Satellite Program (IDCSP).<ref name=burr-201202/> In 1965, the U.S. invited the MOD to participate in their IDCSP programme, and to participate Marconi were contracted to build three 40 foot diameter air transportable ground stations for the launch of the first IDCSP satellites in 1966. As Britain had insufficient industry expertise to build satellites, a contact was placed with U.S. Philco Ford to build Skynet 1, but with the assistance of Marconi to improve UK expertise for Skynet 2.<ref name=mraths-skynet-201807>Template:Cite web</ref>

Nine ground stations were initially planned, which could also communicate with sub-geostationary U.S. IDCSP satellites:<ref name=burr-201202>Template:Cite book</ref>

three principal stations at RAF Oakhanger, Cyprus and Singapore with 40 foot dishes and 20 kW transmitters
two stations at HMS Jufair and RAF Gan (Indian Ocean) with air transportable 20 foot dishes and 5 kW transmitters called SKYNET V
two additional air-transportable stations
two Royal Navy ship stations with 6 foot dishes and 5 kW transmitters, initially installed on Template:HMS and Template:HMS but movable to Template:HMS and Template:HMS as required

Skynet 1A was the first military satellite in geostationary orbit, in 1969.<ref name=rsre-198901/> The Royal Air Force displayed a model of the Skynet satellite on the children's television show Blue Peter in 1969, the show also described the new British satellite control centre at RAF Oakhanger.<ref name="Aldrich-2011,347-348"/>

The Skynet satellites provided secure and encrypted facilities, though expensively, for the British armed forces and intelligence agencies. It enables an important sovereign command and control service.<ref name=kcl-202011>Template:Cite report</ref> The largest user of the Skynet satellites during the Cold War was the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ),<ref name=bowen-2019/> who were responsible for over 80% of traffic at some locations such as Cyprus.<ref name="Aldrich-2011,347-348"/> Despite the enormous communications capability of Skynet, GCHQ still found the capacity provided by Skynet to be inadequate.<ref name="Aldrich-2011,347-348"/> In 1972, GCHQ was still the satellite's largest funder, and argued for the purchase of an American built Type-777 (DSCS II) satellite instead.<ref name="Aldrich-2011,347-348"/> GCHQ would later plan their own secret signals intelligence satellite, Zircon, which was subsequently cancelled. The circumstances around the reporting of Zircon's existence would become known as the Zircon affair.<ref name=BBC-history>Template:Cite web</ref>

Skynet has had throughout all its models a good degree of interoperability with U.S. and NATO military communications satellites and ground stations.<ref name=bowen-2019>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 2010, the Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet Office launched the High Integrity Telecommunications System, a satellite-based emergency communications service based on Skynet, for use by UK police and other emergency services, primarily for use at Strategic Command Centres and at major events and emergencies. It replaced the earlier Emergency Communications Network.<ref name=hits-201009>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=hits-2011>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2021 UK Space Command was created, which when fully operational will take over responsibility for Skynet from Strategic Command (previously known as Joint Forces Command), likely in 2023.<ref name=mod-20210401>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=janes-20220511>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2025, commander of UK Space Command Major General Paul Tedman said that Russia was attempting to jam Skynet satellites on a weekly basis, and was collecting information about them. He added that as part of the joint Operation Olympic Defender, a US satellite, likely from the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, was moved in September 2025 to inspect and confirm Skynet 5A was operating correctly.<ref name=guardian-20251003>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=asf-20250919>Template:Cite news</ref>

Models

Skynet 1

There were two Skynet 1 satellites (1A and 1B); Skynet 1A was launched on a Delta M on 22 November 1969,<ref name=mraths-skynet-201807/> and stationed over the east coast of Africa.<ref name=Amos2024>Template:Cite web</ref> However, the satellite ceased operating after about 18 months when all of its Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs) failed, probably when soldered high voltage joints failed after cycling between extreme temperatures.<ref name=mraths-skynet-201807/> Some time in the mid-1970s, the now-defunct satellite was moved far from its original position; its current location in a stable "gravity well" (see Geostationary orbit#Stability) at longitude 105° W off the Pacific coast of Latin America is 36,000 km away from its original position, and it could not have simply drifted and ended up in this stable orbit.<ref name="Amos2024" /> The new location is near satellite traffic and it has to be monitored for collision risks. In 2024, the BBC reported that there is no record of who moved it or why.<ref name=Amos2024/> Skynet 1B was launched on a Delta M on 19 August 1970. Skynet 1B was placed in a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and was abandoned in transfer orbit (270 x 36058 km) due to a failure of the Thiokol Star 17A apogee kick motor.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:PD-notice</ref>

Skynet 1 series satellites had an orbit mass of Template:Cvt, were spin-stabilised with a single despun antenna with 3 watts of output on two channels (2 MHz and 20 MHz).<ref name=rsre-198901/> The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO 2A and NATO 2B satellites, launched 1970 and 1971, were identical except for an antenna shaped to only cover NATO countries.<ref name=gunter-nato2>Template:Cite web</ref>

Skynet 2

Following the operational failure of the Skynet 1A satellite, the timetable for the launch of the Skynet 2 communications satellite was delayed. Skynet 2A was launched on the Delta 2313 by NASA for the United Kingdom on 19 January 1974.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A short circuit in an electronics package circuit board (on second stage) left the upper stages and satellite in an unstable low orbit (96 x 3406 km x 37.6°) that rapidly decayed. An investigation revealed that a substandard coating had been used on the circuit board.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Despite being in an unstable orbit, the ground stations successfully located and tracked Skynet 2A and were able to use telemetry readings from the solar panels to determine its alignment. Based on this analysis, it was decided to use the alignment thrusters to deorbit the unit, and it was destroyed when it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 24 January 1974.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:PD-notice</ref>

Skynet 2B was successfully launched on the Delta 2313 by NASA for the United Kingdom on 23 November 1974.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:PD-notice</ref> It was positioned in geostationary orbit above Kenya to give coverage of Europe, Africa and a substantial part of Asia as far east at the Philippines. It could support about ten simultaneous users. Major ground stations used a 40-foot diameter dish, while in the field or at sea a 2 m diameter dish was used.<ref name=commsmuseum-2007>Template:Cite web</ref>

Skynet 2 satellites had an orbit mass of Template:Cvt, with a single antenna with 16 watts of output.<ref name=rsre-198901/>

The Skynet 2 series satellites were assembled and tested at the Marconi Space and Defence Systems establishment in Portsmouth, England, and were the first non-amateur <ref>The first communications satellite built outside the U.S. and former USSR appears to have been Australis-OSCAR 5, built at the University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia and launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 23 January 1970.</ref> communication satellites built outside the United States and USSR.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Signals Research and Development Establishment (SRE) led the development, and performed initial in-orbit testing. Subsequently, the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment supported Skynet satellites, including developing ground terminals and modems, at RAF Defford which was also a backup for the primary ground station at RAF Oakhanger.<ref name=mraths-201807/> The Skynet 2B system was very successful for its time, and remained in service for 20 years although only having 2 communications channels.<ref name=rafmuseum-20170630>Template:Cite web</ref>

Skynet 3

Skynet 3 series satellites was cancelled as the United Kingdom withdrew East of Suez, and instead the capability it was intended to offer was delivered via U.S. and NATO assets.<ref name=rafmuseum-20170630/><ref name=rsre-198901/> This dependence on U.S. assets was identified as a weakness during the Falklands War and was one of the contributing factors for the emergence of the Skynet 4 series satellites tranche of space vehicles. Technology improvements created the possibility of tactical satellite communications using smaller terminals, creating a new requirement beyond Skynet 3 strategic headquarters communications.<ref name=mraths-skynet-201807/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The Royal Navy was also concerned that the high frequency radio alternative enabled location tracking by the Soviet Union Ocean Surveillance System.<ref name=na-20191024>Template:Cite web</ref>

Skynet 4

Skynet 4 series satellites have few similarities to the earlier generations, being based on the British Aerospace European Communications Satellite.<ref name=rsre-198901/> The cylindrical body of Skynet 1 and 2 was replaced by a large square body housing antennas with deployable solar-cell arrays. This marks the technological improvement from spin-stabilisation, used in earlier cylindrical satellites, to three-axis stabilisation using momentum wheels and reaction wheels controlling the satellite gyroscopically. Each satellite had a design operational life of 7 years.<ref name=rafmuseum-20170630/>

Skynet 4 manufacture was carried out by British Aerospace Dynamics (BAe Dynamics) with Matra Marconi Space (MMS) providing the Communications payload. NATO adapted the design for the NATO IVA and IVB communication satellites, also manufactured by BAe Dynamics.<ref name=rsre-198901/> The programme timescales were delayed, as initially Skynet 4 was designed to be launched from the Space Shuttle (STS), with chosen RAF officers to be part of each Shuttle Crew. However, following the 1986 Challenger disaster (STS 51-L), the programme slowed and all the Skynet 4 series satellites had to be modified to suit the changes needed to go on a disposable launch vehicle. As Skynet 4A build was advanced it needed significant modification, and its completion was overtaken by Skynet 4B which had not progressed as far, and hence more easily converted. Consequently, Skynet 4B was finished first and launched in 1988, with Skynet 4A next in early 1990, and Skynet 4C later the same year.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:PD-notice</ref><ref>Template:Cite web Template:PD-notice</ref> As of 2022, Skynet 4C is still in operation, providing service to the U.S. Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station for up to six hours a day because its orbital inclination has increased to 10.3°.<ref name=uksaregister-202010/><ref name=usap-skynet>Template:Cite web Template:PD-notice</ref><ref name=airbus-20170510>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=issuu-2022>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Stage 1 satellites (4A, 4B and 4C) have multi-frequency capability and considerable operational flexibility, with selectable channels, gain and four antenna types of differing widths to support varying requirements, Ultra high frequency (UHF), Super high frequency (SHF) and experimental Extremely high frequency (EHF) channels are available. They are hardening against electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and have anti-jamming capability, with an un-degraded 1600 watts power supply. The satellites have a dry mass of Template:Cvt, with three reaction wheels and hydrazine thrusters for station keeping.<ref name=rsre-198704>Template:Cite report</ref>

The improved Stage 2 satellites (4D, 4E and 4F) were built by Matra Marconi Space and Astrium to replace the earlier versions. Improvements included increased power and resistance to electronic jamming. Skynet 4D was launched in 1998, Skynet 4E in 1999 and Skynet 4F in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Skynet 4D was parked in a non-operational supersynchronous orbit on 28 January 2008.<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>

Skynet 4 provides Ultra high frequency and Super high frequency services using Earth cover, wide area and spot beam coverage.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Skynet 5

Skynet 5 is the next generation of satellites, replacing the existing Skynet 4 Stage 2 satellites. It was contracted via Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to a partnership between Paradigm Secure Communications and EADS Astrium, a European spacecraft manufacturer.<ref name=ijglobal-20060712>Template:Cite news</ref> EADS Astrium was responsible for the build and delivery of Skynet 5 series satellites in orbit, whilst subsidiary company Paradigm was responsible for the provision of service to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). In 2010, the PFI contract was extended by two years to 2022, to a total cost of £3.66 billion over the course of the contract, with Paradigm able to sell bandwidth in excess of the capacity of 1.1 Skynet satellites to other allied countries.<ref name=independent-20100310>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=nao-20061124>Template:Cite report</ref> Paradigm had 220 staff and about 100 sub-contractors working on Skynet.<ref name=pppforum-200911>Template:Cite web</ref> Serco is a major subcontractor on the PFI programme.<ref name=serco-stacoms>Template:Cite web</ref> This was the biggest ever outsourced military satellite communications contract.<ref name=rand-2017>Template:Cite report</ref>

The Skynet 5 satellite is based on the Eurostar E3000 satellite bus design, weighs about Template:Cvt, has two solar panels each about fifteen metres long, and has a power budget of five kilowatts. It has four steerable transmission dishes, and a phased-array receiver designed to allow jamming signals to be cancelled out. They will also resist attempts to disrupt them with high-powered lasers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ukdj-20180521>Template:Cite news</ref>

Astrium described in 2010 the Skynet 5 system as: Template:Blockquote

Skynet 5A was launched by an Ariane 5 launch vehicle at 22:03 UTC on 11 March 2007, in a launch shared with the Indian INSAT 4B civil communications satellite, and entered full service on 10 May 2007.<ref name=astrium-20070510>Template:Cite press release</ref> The launch was delayed from 10 March 2007 due to malfunction of a launch pad deluge system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Skynet 5A successfully separated from its launch vehicle and telemetry was acquired by its dedicated Control Centre approximately 40 minutes after launch.

Skynet 5B was launched at 22:06 UTC on 14 November 2007, from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, in French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 5ECA launch vehicle. This launch was delayed from 9 November 2007 due to problems with the electronics on one of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB), and 12 November 2007 due to a fuelling problem with the launch pad. At time of launch, the Ariane 5ECA launcher set a new record on this mission, deploying a total payload of more than Template:Cvt.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Skynet 5C was launched at 22:05:09 UTC on 12 June 2008, from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, in French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 5ECA launch vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The launch had been delayed twice. Originally scheduled for 23 May 2008, more checks were carried out on the launch vehicle and the launch was rescheduled for 30 May 2008.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> A problem with the launch software during pre-launch checks led Arianespace to reschedule the launch for a second time to 12 June 2008.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Skynet 5D was launched at 21:49:07 UTC on 19 December 2012, from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, in French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 5ECA launch vehicle. Skynet 5D provides more than double the UHF channels of the previous satellites, which are in demand as they support "comms on the move" for soldiers with backpack radios.<ref name=bbc-20121219>Template:Cite web</ref> The Ministry of Defence described the satellite as having a "key role in gathering intelligence on operations", as well as communications.<ref name=defense-aerospace-20100309/> Skynet 5D has larger fuel tanks enabling it to be repositioned more frequently if necessary.<ref name=sn-20130416/>

The programme marks a change of approach in the UK from traditional defence procurement methods to a services-based contract which also includes provision of leased ground terminals, Reacher vehicles, the Satellite Communications Onboard Terminal (SCOT) for ships, and the associated baseband equipment.<ref name=davison-2013>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Initially two Skynet 5 satellites were to be built, with insurance covering any launch loss; the MOD later decided to have a third satellite built in advance, and later still to have the third satellite launched to serve as an on-orbit spare, as well as an option to a fourth satellite, as a cheaper alternative to insurance.<ref name=pppforum-200911/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2011, The MOD took ownership of a NATO satellite with two UHF channels, to support the additional demands from British involvement in the War in Afghanistan. Control of this satellite was incorporated into the Skynet 5 PFI contract.<ref name=mod-20110830>Template:Cite news</ref>

The satellites are managed from a site named Hawthorn, a few hundred metres north of MOD Corsham, in partnership with MOD's Defence Digital (previously Information Systems & Services) who are based at MOD Corsham.<ref name=desider-201111>Template:Cite report</ref>

Expansion to near global coverage

In 2010, Paradigm announced it would lease the X-band (SHF) module on the Anik G1 commercial satellite at 107.3° West over the Pacific Ocean, covering the Americas and as far west as Hawaii, to complement Skynet system coverage. The three-channel, wide-beam X-band payload has performance similar to a Skynet 5 satellite, but without the military hardening.<ref name=sn-20101013>Template:Cite news</ref> Anik G1 launched on 16 April 2013, improving the constellation's X-band capacity to 2.2 GHz of throughput.<ref name=sn-20130416>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=airbus-20170510/>

In 2015, Skynet 5A was moved from 6° East, where it reinforced Middle East coverage, to 95° East, near West Sumatra. This move was to extend the Skynet coverage eastward in the Indian Ocean and to the western Pacific Ocean. With this move and Anik G1, Skynet offers near global coverage, from 178° West to 163° East.<ref name=mod-20150317>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ukspace-20160914>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2016, a new Australian ground station was opened at Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, managed by Airbus in partnership with SpeedCast, an Australian provider for over 25 years which works with the Australian military at that base. This complements Airbus's existing chain of ground stations in France, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom and the United States. The British High Commissioner Menna Rawlings said at the opening ceremony "Territorial disputes over uninhabited rocks and reefs have the potential to generate enough friction in international affairs to spark a confrontation", alluding to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.<ref name=abcau-20160516>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=defenceconnect-20160516>Template:Cite news</ref>

Airbus Defence and Space signed a further three partners, Hughes Network Systems, Inmarsat and SpeedCast, into its Skynet partner programme who offer third-party Skynet services. The Skynet contract also allow Airbus to sell surplus bandwidth to NATO and allied governments, including the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States).<ref name=ukspace-20160914/><ref name=viasat-20150916>Template:Cite news</ref>

Technical specifications

The fleet of military X-band satellites have been specifically designed to support smaller, low powered, tactical terminals. Each Skynet 5 satellite is equipped with:

High power 160W TWTAs on all transponders, giving 56 dBW peak EIRP in each transmit spot beam and 41 dBW peak EIRP in each global beam per transponder
15 active SHF / EHF transponders ranging in bandwidth from 20 GHz to 40 GHz
Up to 9 UHF channels
Multiple fully steerable downlink spot beams
On Board Active Receive Antenna (OBARA) capable of generating multiple shaped uplink beams
Flexible switching capability allowing connectivity between any uplink beam and at least two downlink beams
Nuclear hardening, anti-jamming countermeasures and laser protection<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Skynet 6

In 2018, the MOD was specifying the replacement of Skynet 5, whose PFI programme ended in August 2022.<ref name=ukdj-20190212>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=bbc-20200720>Template:Cite news</ref> Airbus Defence and Space will build a non-competitively sourced Skynet 6A satellite planned for a 2025 launch, as a transition to a new architecture.<ref name=spacenews-20181107>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mod-20191022>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2017, the PFI project was viewed as unlikely to be extended, as PFI contracting was then seen as generally poor value for taxpayers, and it had depleted MOD of satellite expertise which made specifying its replacement difficult.<ref name=seradata-20171129>Template:Cite news</ref>

Skynet 6A is based on the Airbus Eurostar Neo satellite bus, using electric orbit raising and station keeping propulsion, and built at Airbus Stevenage and Portsmouth, England. It uses more radio frequencies for communication, and will have more capacity and versatility than Skynet 5 satellites.<ref name=bbc-20200720/><ref name=airbus-20200719/> A contract for over £500 million was agreed in July 2020, including launch, testing and related ground operations improvements.<ref name=airbus-20200719>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name=dn-20200720>Template:Cite news</ref> Due to the delay in agreeing the Skynet 6A contract, preliminary contracts for initial design and to manufacture long lead items had been agreed earlier to prevent end-date slippage.<ref name=c4isrnet-20200522/><ref name=mod-20191022/> Manufacture of 6A started in October 2021, and a Falcon 9 launch was booked with SpaceX for 2025.<ref name=news-20211013>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=teslarati-20211102>Template:Cite news</ref>

The vision for Skynet 6 is a flexible system architecture that combines UK government, allied and commercial satellites. The MOD has become a user of U.S. military constellations Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) and the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) systems, and may become a partner in the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS).<ref name=spacenews-20181106>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=sn-20181107>Template:Cite news</ref> Part of the enhanced capability would be to support data links to unmanned aerial vehicles and F-35B Lightning II aircraft.<ref name=ukdj-20190913>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=cbr-20190912>Template:Cite news</ref>

As of 2019, Skynet is the large part of the MOD Future Beyond Line of Sight Satellite Communications programme (FBLOS), which extends to 2041, and has four elements:<ref name=mod-20191022/><ref name=nao-202012>Template:Cite report</ref>

Skynet 6A, a single transition satellite
Service Delivery Wrap, a support contract to manage and control the Skynet constellation and ground infrastructure
Skynet 6 Enduring Capability, to provide and operate communication satellites and ground infrastructure into the future
Secure Telemetry, Tracking and Command (STT&C), to provide assured UK control and management of satellites and their payloads into the future

On 3 July 2020, the UK Government announced that it had acquired a 45% stake in the OneWeb low Earth orbit satellite communications company, for US$500 million including a golden share to give it control over any future ownership sale.<ref name=bbc-20200703>Template:Cite news</ref> Analysts believe OneWeb will be incorporated into the Skynet 6 architecture. OneWeb satellites are already manufactured by a joint venture including Airbus Defence and Space, which positions the current Skynet operator well for future involvement in Skynet 6.<ref name=sn-20200719>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ft-20200702>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2021, a one-year transition was expected to start from the Airbus PFI contract to the new Service Delivery Wrap contract which will operate ground stations until a new generation of satellites under an Enduring Capability contract are launched from about 2028. This transition is expected to cost about £6 billion.<ref name=c4isrnet-20200522>Template:Cite news</ref>

In February 2023, Babcock International won the Service Delivery Wrap support contract to operate and manage Skynet, including the ground infrastructure and integrating new user terminals, for six years from March 2024 at a cost of £400 million.<ref name=dn-20230215>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mod-20230215>Template:Cite press release</ref>

During 2023 contractors were preparing to bid on the SkyNet Enduring Capability programme, which is split into two contracts: the major one to deliver a constellation of up to three geostationary wideband satellite systems for launch from 2028 to 2030, and a smaller contract for a narrowband service for tactical battlefield access.<ref name=ft-20231023>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mod-20230531>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, Airbus was given an 18-year contract for the design, manufacture and support of capability enhanced ground modems for communication with Skynet including the forthcoming Skynet 6A satellite. It will be a software-defined radio system capable of processing multiple waveforms on all commonly-used frequencies, including X-band.<ref name=themanufacturer-20241127>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2025, Amazon subsidiary Kuiper Systems was given a contract to study an advanced communications architecture using "translator" satellites to bridge between military, government and private satellites. U.S. DARPA has been working on a similar architecture.<ref name=telegraph-20250209>Template:Cite news</ref> As of May 2025, non-MOD-owned satellite capacity is being sought to augment Skynet.<ref name=spaceintelreport-20250501>Template:Cite news</ref>

Information assurance

In early 1999, Reuters reported that the Skynet system was breached by a group of hackers who issued blackmail threats against the MOD. Duncan Campbell reported that the wire reports were wrong.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Satellite summary

**Summary**
Model	Manufacturer	Launch date	Launch vehicle	End of service<ref name=airbus-20181118>Template:Cite web</ref>	GSO position in 2017<ref name=airbus-20170510/>	Comments
Skynet 1
1A	Philco Ford	22 November 1969	Delta M	1971	105° West	Non-operational, not re-orbited<ref name=uksaregister-202010>Template:Cite report</ref>
1B	Philco Ford	19 August 1970	Delta M	launch failure		Apogee motor failure, did not orbit<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>
Skynet 2
2A	Marconi Space Systems	19 January 1974	Delta 2000	launch failure		Rocket guidance failure, re-entry on 25 January 1974<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>
2B	Marconi Space Systems	23 November 1974	Delta 2000	~1994<ref name=rafmuseum-20170630/>	~8° East	Uncontrolled, not re-orbited<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>
Skynet 4 Stage 1
4A	British Aerospace	1 January 1990	Commercial Titan III<ref name=gunter-skynet4>Template:Cite web</ref>	2005	Template:Ndash	Launched with JCSAT-2, re-orbited in supersynchronous orbit on 20 June 2005<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>
4B	British Aerospace	11 December 1988	Ariane 44LP	1998	Template:Ndash	Launched with Astra 1A, re-orbited 150 km above GSO in June 1998<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>
4C	British Aerospace	30 August 1990	Ariane 44LP		33° East	From about 2017 providing service to the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station<ref name=usap-skynet/>
Skynet 4 Stage 2
4D	Matra Marconi Space<ref group=note>Marconi Space Systems merged to form Matra Marconi Space in 1990. MMS acquired BAe Space Systems in 1994</ref>	10 January 1998	Delta 7000	2008	Template:Ndash	Replaced 4B, re-orbited in a supersynchronous orbit on 28 January 2008<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>
4E	Matra Marconi Space	26 February 1998	Ariane 44L		6° East
4F	Astrium<ref group=note>In 2000 MMS merged with DASA's space division to form Astrium.</ref>	7 February 2001	Ariane 44L		34° West
Skynet 5
5A	EADS Astrium<ref group=note>BAE Systems sold its 25% share of Astrium, renamed EADS Astrium</ref>	11 March 2007	Ariane 5ECA		95° East (prev. 6° East)	Launched with Insat 4B. Moved in 2015 to extend Skynet coverage eastward to the western Pacific.<ref name=ukspace-20160914/>
5B	EADS Astrium	14 November 2007	Ariane 5ECA		25° East (prev. 53° East)<ref name=uksaregister-202010/>	Launched with Star One C1
5C	EADS Astrium	12 June 2008	Ariane 5ECA		17.8° West	Launched with Turksat 3A
5D	EADS Astrium	19 December 2012	Ariane 5ECA		53° East	Launched with MEXSAT-3
Skynet 6
6A	Airbus Defence and Space	planned 2025	Falcon 9 Block 5<ref name=teslarati-20211102/>

Notes

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References

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External links

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Skynet (satellite)

Contents

History