Two Airbus technicians work on commercial GEO satellite in Portsmouth clean room. Credit: Airbus.

Airbus Defence and Space invited Airforce Technology to its Portsmouth facility where the company builds an impressive portfolio of satellite communication (SATCOM) systems for military and civil agencies alike.

Among numerous projects, Airbus is also tasked with the production of Skynet 6A, the first satellite within the forthcoming iteration of Britain’s future military SATCOM, which SpaceX will launch in 2025.

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The programme is due to replace the country’s four existing Skynet 5 satellites, tasked with underpinning the military’s ability to communicate and operate globally. For that reason, the project has been designated a Category A programme within the Government Major Projects Portfolio, and they anticipate spending more than £5bn ($6.47bn) on the programme over the next ten years.

“What we’re seeing more is space becoming a warfighting domain,” said Martin Rowse, campaign director of the Skynet programme at Airbus.

Under a government-owned and contractor-operated agreement, Airbus’ Skynet 6 constellation will expand capacity and protection over its predecessor to meet the demand for more data than ever before.

Notably, the next-generation constellation will better suit the needs of the Royal Air Force’s fleet of F-35B Lightning II multi-role aircraft, and the future sixth-generation Tempest fighter, both of which will operate in a hybrid structure alongside collaborative uncrewed aerial systems.

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This new method of aerial warfare would be more suited to an enhanced capability that will better support the data links between these advanced platforms.

British F-35B pilots prepare to disembark from HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, 17 March 2024. The enhanced capability of Skynet 6 will support data links between different platforms. Credit: Crown copyright/UK Ministry of Defence.

Airbus Portsmouth facility

Integration and building of satellites are undertaken in a clean room to prevent contamination, while a reconfigurable secure capability allows commercial and classified projects to run in parallel.

In addition, another adjacent clean room is used to make specific components due to be fitted to their satellites. Both rooms are air-conditioned and contamination-controlled.

If you would like to find out more about Airbus leading UK space capabilities and the Skynet 6 programme you will find an in-depth feature article covering the visit to Portsmouth on Global Defence Technology Issue 148, which releases in August 2024.