Babcock has been awarded a six-year £400 million contracted to operate the UK’s military satellite communications system.

The London-headquartered aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering company will manage the Ministry of Defence’s constellation of military satellites, ground stations, and integrate new user terminals.

The multi-million-pound contract is for the management of Skynet operations, which delivers information to UK and allied forces around the world when they’re on the battlefield, onboard a ship, or in the air.

“Space is increasingly important for maintaining battlefield advantage,” defence procurement minister Alex Chalk. “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.”

The deal is part of the wider satellite comms programme which aims to provide space-based communications to 2041 and beyond, with an overall government investment of £6 billion.

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

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