UK orders SKYNET 5

[buglerbilly]

New satellite will support UK military operations

An Equipment and Logistics news article

11 Mar 10

Communications on the UK's military operations are to be boosted thanks to a £400m contract for the use of a new satellite, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support has announced this week.


Computer-generated representation of a Skynet 5 satellite in orbit around the Earth (stock image)
[Picture: Copyright Astrium 2007]

The Skynet 5D is the fourth of its kind to be used by the MOD. The advanced satellite will be launched in 2013 and play a key role in gathering intelligence on operations.

This satellite will also be used to provide the telephone and internet welfare support facilities for Service personnel on operations.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"Future operations require that our Armed Forces are given access to the best possible communications and this new satellite will go a long way to ensuring this.

"This value for money package not only builds upon a tried and tested capability for the Armed Forces, but also secures hundreds of jobs in a very important field of technology."

The building of Skynet 5D will directly create around 100 new jobs, mainly at EADS Astrium's sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage.

It will also sustain approximately 800 jobs at these sites and in Corsham, Wiltshire, at Paradigm's Hawthorn site.

Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, said:

"The UK's thriving space and satellite industry has been a real recession-buster - creating jobs and achieving exceptional growth.

"This latest success cements the UK's position as a world leader in satellite technology, with the sector forecast to be worth £40bn to the UK by the year 2030."

Darrell Midgley, MOD Defence Equipment and Support's Information Systems and Services Networks Head, said:

"The demand for satellite communications is growing faster than originally predicted.

"To ensure that future operations will continue to have access to the vital communications they may need, the MOD has decided that it would be prudent to make arrangements to take advantage of the services that a fourth satellite in the Paradigm's Skynet constellation would provide."

Under the Private Finance Initiative deal, the MOD is buying satellite services, not the satellites. The overall programme is now worth about £3.5bn over its planned duration, which will be at least until 2022.

[Milne Bay]

UK orders SKYNET 5

Hmmm.............
unfortunate name.
I wonder when they expect Skynet (5-10?) to become self aware.................?

[torpex]

UK orders SKYNET 5

Hmmm.............
unfortunate name.
I wonder when they expect Skynet (5-10?) to become self aware.................?

It's alright, I think Judgement Day has passed, so we should be safe :D

[buglerbilly]

DATE:12/03/10

SOURCE:Flight InternationalUK to extend Skynet 5 constellation

By Craig Hoyle

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded EADS Astrium Services subsidiary Paradigm a £400 million ($600 million) contract extension to supply a fourth satellite for its Skynet 5 constellation.

Paradigm says the addition of Skynet 5D "will enhance the military satellite communications service provision capability to the UK MoD and allied forces until at least 2022". This represents a two-year extension to its previous contract.

Operated under a private finance initiative arrangement since 2003, the Skynet 5 service has managed the transition from last-generation equipment through the launch of three new satellites in 2007 and 2008. Secure communications cover has been provided for UK military personnel in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans region, says Paradigm. The addition of Skynet 5D will "satisfy increasing future capacity requirements", it adds.

"The demand for a fourth Skynet 5 satellite demonstrates the growing global demand for the services we can offer, and proves that we have successfully implemented a truly innovative approach to milsatcom procurement," says Astrium Services chief executive Eric Béranger.

Paradigm had predicted the likely demand for additional capability through its private finance deal, and has already built the fourth satellite. Completion work will now be conducted before its scheduled launch in 2013. The UK's Skynet 5 commitment is now worth around £3.6 billion, it says.

"The demand for satellite communications is growing faster than originally predicted," says Darrell Midgley, information systems and services networks head for the UK's Defence Equipment and Support organisation.

Third party use is also supported via the UK's Skynet infrastructure. Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, NATO, the Netherlands, Portugal and the USA have bought access to the system since 2003, and the Czech Republic, Norway and Slovenia have also recently signed up for access.