About the SKYNET programmeProgramme

SKYNET is thea Ministryfamily of Defence’smilitary (MOD’s) satellite communications (SATCOM)satellites, capability.currently Itoperated isfor athe familyMinistry of militaryDefence communications(MOD), satellitesthat whichprovides provide strategic communication services to the UK Armed Forces and ourits allies. It supports operations to deliver information to UK and allied forces around the world, enabling battlefield information advantage anywhere, anytime. 

The SKYNET 5 satellitesis are the most recent generation of UKthis military satellites, with SKYNET 6a having completed initial phase testing.family.

About SKIES

The SKYNET Integrated Enterprise Solution (SKIES)(SKIES) programme is adeveloping complexand businessassessing transformationoptions projectfor strivingthe tofuture improvecommercial/delivery deliverymodel andfor integration of the future SKYNET 6programme, Programmewhilst throughexploring the developmentimplementation of a new business operating model.model The team is currently developing and assessing options to redefineenable themore relationshipcollaborative withworking industrybetween toIndustry enable greater collaboration, agility and sustainability.the MOD.

About SKIES

The UK Government’s approach to space is changing and maturing. As the pace of change in the space sector continues to accelerate, the SKYNET programme continues to face significant challenges that require a fundamental change to the way in which it does business. In response to these challenges the MOD SKIES teamTeam is currently defining the future delivery model for the SKYNET programme.

SKIES will seek to address these challenges by establishing a collaborative model with industryIndustry and more efficient ways of working across the SKYNET programme. This will lead to more effective decision making in areas such as route to market, programme and system integration and the utilisation of constrained resources, while exploiting future technology and innovation. At the same time SKIES will need to align and be consistent with broader UK Government and defence policies and strategies.

SKIES will be how the MOD manages the delivery of the SKYNET capability with industryIndustry into the medium and long-term future (for at least 1010-15 years).years) with a target date of starting SKIES delivery in 2025. Its implementation will be incremental and evolutionary but with a constant focus on continuous improvement.

Get involved with the SKIES programmethe SKIES Programme

The MOD SKIES teamMOD SKIES Team would like to work with innovators in industry, academia, and other government bodies, including our closest allies, to understand new trends, opportunities and business developments which could help to define the future delivery model for the SKYNET programme.

SKIES

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SKIES ThursdayMarket 20Engagement November 2025.

Event

The aim of the day is to provide information to industry on the SKIES project, which will include:include the following:

• a strategic overview of the SKIES project
• an outline of the activities currently being undertaken during the SKIES Assessment Phase
• an overview of the key SKYNET programme challenges that will shape and inform the development of the SKIES project,project
• next includingsteps and indicative timelines for future SKIES market engagement

All briefing material, an introductionaudio of the presentation and the responses to questions received at the event will be made available on the SKYNET Defence Share portal.

If you wish to register for a SKYNET Defence Share account, or register your intention to attend the Market Engagement Event on the 19 July 2023, please contact the MOD SKIES problemTeam statementsat UKStratComDD-IES-SC-SKSKIESGp@mod.gov.uk.

SKIES Market Engagement Survey

MOD is sharing a survey with industry after the SKIES Market Engagement Event that aims to:

• outline how SKIES maximises opportunities and addresses the Skynet programme challenges
• nextgain stepsindustry forperspectives futureon the SKIES marketcritical engagementsuccess factors
• gain industry perspectives on the key capabilities within the SKIES models and who is best placed to perform these roles
• gain insight of best practice that exists across industry

AllAccess briefingthe materialsurvey

The willSKIES team are reviewing completed surveys and using insights from them to help develop and mature the SKIES options. Where insights required further understanding or provide new perspectives, industry may be distributedinvited viato attend a one-to-one supplier engagement.

The SKIES team welcome submissions to the Defencesurvey Sourcingto Portalhelp aftershape their thinking throughout Q4 2023.

One-to-one supplier engagements

Suppliers may be invited to a future engagement where their written survey response requires further exploration, clarification, and discussion for SKIES to undertake market analysis.

The one-to-one supplier engagements will allow the event.SKIES project team to:

• build an initial picture of the market attractiveness of SKIES
• clarify and further explore areas in the written responses to the survey
• gather insight to further develop the market assessment

One-to-one engagements are expected to take place between September and October 2023.

Contact us

If you think you and your team could help the MOD SKIES teamthe MOD SKIES Team meet any of these challenges, then we’d be very interested to hear from you. Please contact us at UKStratComDD-CM-Space-SKIES-ME@mod.gov.ukUKStratComDD-IES-SC-SKSKIESGp@mod.gov.uk.

More information

There is also further information on the SKIES projectthe SKIES programme and other MOD contractsother MOD contracts on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP)(DSP). You can loglogin in or register as a user on the official e-sourcing platform which advertises new contract opportunities and information on doing business with the MOD.the MOD.

Suppliers should register for access using the supplier registration button on the DSP homepage.

To access SKIES andaccess SKIES and other opportunities in the Defence supply chain follow Defence Procurement on LinkedIn and @defenceproc. on Twitter.