Skynet 6A makes progress
UK military SATCOM programme passes important milestone.
The Skynet 6A military communications satellite for the UK MoD has successfully passed the Preliminary Design Review stage.
Skynet 6A can now proceed towards a Critical Design Review (CDR) before its expected launch date of 2025, prime contractor Airbus Defence and Space UK (Airbus DS UK) announced on 14 January.
The MoD awarded a contract worth more than £500 million ($637.34 million) to Airbus DS for development test and launch of the Skynet 6A geostationary satellite.
The satellite will use the Airbus Eurostar Neo telecommunications satellite platform coupled with electric orbit raising propulsion and station-keeping systems.
Skynet 6A is part of the broader Skynet 6 SATCOM programme, which the MoD plans as a successor to the Skynet 5 constellation.
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