Ministry Of Defence
About the SKYNET Programme
SKYNET is a family of military communications satellites, currently operated for the Ministry of Defence (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 whilst deployed.
The SKEC space segment will consist of two separate procurements, as follows:
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a narrowband (UHF) requirement which will be delivered through a dedicated satellite (GEO orbit)
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A wideband 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
The UK MOD is continuing to develop the SKYNET Enduring Capability (SKEC) requirement set and we are taking the time to ensure that this is properly defined and articulated clearly.
SKEC Narrowband Satellite System (NSS) Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) release
The MOD SKEC Team is pleased to announce the launch of the SKYNET Enduring Capability (SKEC) Narrowband Satellite System (NSS) Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP).
The SKEC Project will deliver the next era of satellite communications (SATCOM) to the MOD using new space assets. Beyond-Line-of-Sight UHF narrowband communications remains a core element of the MODs SATCOM portfolio 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 (SKEC NSS).
Further details can be found via the DSP until 20 September 2022 11.59pm.
The SKYNET EC Team look forward to Industrys engagement in this procurement.
SKYNET Enduring Capability Industry Engagement Day
The MOD SKEC Team held an Industry Engagement day on 19 May 2022 at Space Park Leicester.
During this engagement day, the SKEC team provided industry with an update on the separation of the Narrowband Satellite Systems (NSS) and Wideband Satellite Systems (WSS) procurements, which included:
- updates from previous industry engagements during 2021
- an outline of the current NSS and WSS top-level capability requirements
- indicative timelines for the NSS procurement and WSS engagement
- an outline of the Operational Independence and Capability Protection factors
All briefing material, an audio of the presentation and the responses to questions received on the day has been made available on the SKYNET Defence Share portal.
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.
SKEC Industry Engagement Summary Briefing Document and RFI
Following the SKYNET Enduring Capability Industry Engagement Day, the MOD has now published the SKEC Industry Engagement Summary Briefing Document and Request For Information (RFI) and supporting documentation.
The RFI will be used to support the ongoing development of the SKEC procurements and seeks to gather information from industry in the following categories:
- Technical Requirements and Timelines
- Operational Independence Requirements
- Social Value, and
- other considerations.
The complete RFI can be viewed via our Defence Share site.Industry are invited to review the RFI questions and provide a response by no later than 12pm on 12 July 2022, extended from 5 July 2022, however early submission is highly encouraged.
The MOD may wish to invite respondents of this RFI to one-to-one sessions to clarify their written responses
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.