Lockheed Martin, BAE SYSTEMS, BT team on Skynet 5 design study

Lockheed Martin, RAE Systems and British Telecommunications PLC have teamed to study the privately financed development of the next- generation space-based communications system for the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD). Named Skynet 5, this proposed military satellite communications system will be the follow-on to Britain's current military constellation, Skynet 4.

The MoD awarded the Lockheed Martin-led team the £30 million ($49 million), 20-month contract for a Project Definition Design Study (PDDS) in April 1999.

Another parallel study contract was awarded to a team led by Matra Marconi Space, now named Astrium. The two teams will deliver competitive proposals for the Skynet 5 service implementation phase at the end of the 20-month contract.

The commercially financed Skynet 5 will be privately developed, owned and operated, providing communications services to the MoD as an anchor tenant under a long term contract.

The system also will provide telecommunications service to third party customers. This approach offers the MoD the opportunity to benefit from the lower cost of a commercially based system with the secure, protected communications previously found only in dedicated military systems.

Key objectives for the system include interoperability with allied forces and coverage over areas of strategic interest to the United Kingdom. Skynet 5 will process much more data far more quickly and flexibly than the current system, be equipped with greater security features, and offer surge capacity to meet MoD communication needs during military operations.

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