A new chapter in secure military communications has just taken shape in the UK’s orbit-bound defence efforts. Airbus has successfully completed a major milestone in the development of Skynet 6A, the next-generation satellite set to supercharge the British Armed Forces’ global communications by 2027.
In a historic first for the UK space sector, Skynet 6A’s communications and service modules were successfully coupled at the National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) in Harwell. The satellite, built in Airbus’ Stevenage and Portsmouth facilities, marks a leap in military satellite technology—offering 3.5x the capacity of its predecessor, the Skynet 5 series.
This achievement unlocks the next phase of testing before Skynet 6A’s official launch,” said Ben Bridge, Chairman of Airbus Defence and Space UK. “It’s a hardened, future-ready spacecraft tailored for the ever-evolving needs of modern defence
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