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Skynet

Asked by James CartlidgeConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 9 July 2026UIN 14899

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the capability gap created by his Department's decision to cancel the Skynet 6 programme.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The Skynet 6 programme has not been cancelled. There is continued investment in the delivery of the next generation of systems to support satellite communications out to the 2040s. As reported in the Defence Investment Plan, there has been a change in approach for one element of the Skynet 6 programme: the previously planned procurement of the Narrowband Satellite System has ceased in favour of delivery of equivalent capability through a more flexible approach which combines sovereign capability with modern technologies and "space-as-a-service" solutions alongside allies.

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