Ministry Of Defence
About the SKYNET Programme
SKYNET is a family of military communications satellites, currently operated for the MOD, that provides strategic communication services to the UK Armed Forces and allies. SKYNET 5 is the most recent generation of this family.
The SKYNET Enduring Capability (SKEC) programme will deliver the next era of satellite communications (SATCOM) to the MOD using new space assets and a way to monitor and control them. These assets will also be supported by additional commercial services to provide a reliable and robust communications service.
About SKEC
The MOD SKEC team are currently defining the future of the MODs satellite communications capabilities. New technologies and services in the space sector are emerging all the time, along with new threats, risks and hazards as space gets busier and more competitive.
In the same way that mobile phones need more data and bandwidth, with every new user and new technology, so do military communications and these demands are growing quickly.
To meet these additional demands, the MOD SKEC team want to build a network of satellites, ground stations and other user services to provide first-class communications for government, allies and especially our defence personnel, whether theyre on operational duty or keeping in touch with family and friends while deployed.
The SKEC space segment will consist of two separate procurements, as follows:
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A Narrowband Satellite System (UHF) requirement which will be delivered through a dedicated satellite (GEO orbit)
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A Wideband Satellite System (WSS) requirement which will be delivered through a procurement for multiple medium-sized satellites (GEO orbit), including X and Mil Ka-band payloads
Get involved with the SKEC programme
To build this new network the MOD SKEC Team would like to work with innovators in industry, academia and other government bodies, including our closest allies, to understand new trends and new opportunities and to encourage research and development.
To meet the needs of SKYNET, we are currently investigating:
- new ideas, capabilities and services
- the exploitation of our existing systems and information
- terminals, ground equipment and other infrastructure
- ways to improve our network efficiency and customer satisfaction
- tools and technologies to deal with risks, hazards and hostile threats
- using combinations of the best available military and civilian SATCOM services
- new technologies to invest in, develop and encourage
- future technologies and ways to improve the management of our core network.
Industry engagement
Previous industry engagements for the SKEC programme include the following:
- UHF Hosted Payload RFI: August 2020
- Satellite Bus Design and Manufacturing RFI: September 2020
- Future Acquisition Strategy RFI: March 2021
- Assured Capability Protective measures: June 2021
- Industry Engagement Day: May 2022
- Industry Engagement Summary Briefing Document and RFI: July 2022
- SKEC NSS PQQ Release: August 2022
- SKYNET Enduring Capability Commercial Satcom: October 2022
- Defence Digital Space, Technical Threat Briefing: February 2023
- Defence Digital Space, Technical Threat Briefing second event: March 2023
The MOD is continuing to develop the SKEC requirement set and we are taking the time to ensure that this is properly defined and articulated clearly.
SKECWSS Pre-PQQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire)
The SKEC Delivery Team invites industry to respond to the WSS Pre-PQQ.
The SKEC project will deliver the next era of SATCOM to the MOD using new space assets. This procurement is for the design and manufacture of up to three wideband GEO satellite systems, associated ground equipment, and launch operations to meet PASE dates incorporating measures to deliver an Assured Capability. The requirement will include high availability, military hardened satellite systems, incorporating X-Band and Mil-Ka payloads.
These satellite systems, and the procurement, are known as the SKYNET Enduring Capability Wideband Satellite System (SKEC WSS).
The WSS Pre-PQQ can be accessed via the Defence Sourcing Portal.
You can find previously published information about the WSS procurement, and the wider SKEC programme, on our collaborative site?Defence Share.
This is a secure site and if you wish to apply for access, please request this by emailing UKStratComDD-CM-SatcomSKEC-IE@mod.gov.uk. Information can also be found on this webpage.
SKECWSS Industry Engagement
The SKEC Delivery Team will be conducting an Industry Engagement Day at The Defence Academy, Shrivenham Thursday 27 April 2023.
The aim of the day is to provide information to industry on the WSS procurement, which will include the following:
- a strategic overview of the WSS procurement
- briefings on the construct of the Statement of Requirement document
- an overview of requirements relating to Technological Capital
If you wish to register for a SKYNET Defence Share account, or have any other questions, please contact the SKEC team at UKStratComDD-CM-SatcomSKEC-IE@mod.gov.uk.
SKECWSS Update
The SKEC Delivery Team continues to mature the WSS requirement set, and is able to provide the following update:
The SKEC team will launch the WSS procurement later this calendar year (2023).
SKECNSS invitation to negotiate
The MODSKEC Delivery Team is pleased to announce the launch of the SKEC Narrowband Satellite System (NSS) Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) hosted on AWARD.
TheSKECProject will deliver the next era of SATCOM to theMODusing new space assets. Beyond-Line-of-Sight UHF narrowband communications remains a core element of theMODsSATCOMportfolio and this procurement is for a single UHF geosynchronous satellite and its control system. The satellite is required to meet NATO STANAG 4681 Ed 2 and/or MIL-STD-188-100 standards.
The satellite is known as the SKYNET Enduring Capability Narrowband Satellite System (SKECNSS).
A Contract Bidders Notice has been published on DSP. The SKYNET EC Team look forward to Bidders engagement in this procurement.
SKYNET Enduring Capability Industry Engagement Day
The MOD SKEC Team held an Industry Engagement day on 19 May 2022 at