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Skynet

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 23308

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, SKYNET 6 (aka FBLOS), whether supplier performance delayed the delivery of the first SKYNET 6 satellite.

Answered by Ministry of Defence

There are many reasons for the delay in the build of SKYNET 6A, the first SKYNET 6 satellite – the first of type ever built in the UK. The main ones relate to the impact of the Covid restrictions, the sequestration by the US Government of some key US supplied components for their own programmes which drove a late need to find an alternative source of supply, problems with build quality and third-party supplier issues.

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