Airbus Lobbies Prime Minister Over £2.4bn Satellite Contract
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to award the Skynet 6 satellite contract to Airbus to protect UK space industry jobs.
Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, lobbied Prime Minister Andy Burnham to award the £2.4bn Skynet 6 military satellite contract to Airbus over its American competitor, Lockheed Martin. Faury warned that choosing the US firm could jeopardize the UK's long-term position in the European space industry and potentially force the closure of Airbus facilities in Stevenage and Portsmouth.
Lockheed Martin has countered with a proposal to invest £100m in a new manufacturing facility in Durham, which would create 500 high-skilled jobs. This bid has gained support from officials and politicians in north-east England. The Skynet 6 system is designed to manage sensitive British armed forces communications through 2042.
While reports indicate the Ministry of Defence prefers the Lockheed Martin bid, the final decision rests with Prime Minister Burnham and Chancellor John Healey. The procurement process occurs as the UK government weighs the benefits of US investment against concerns regarding reliance on US infrastructure, following reports of restricted Starlink access in Ukraine.
