Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, has announced a new £400 million contract to use the new Skynet 5D satellite and further enhance military communications on operations.

The Skynet 5D which is the fourth satellite of its kind to be used by the MoD, will be launched in 2013 and will play a key role in gathering intelligence on operations and provide the telephone and internet welfare support facilities for Service personnel on operations.

The build of Skynet 5D will directly create around 100 new jobs, mainly at EADS Astrium’s sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage and will also sustain approximately 800 jobs at these sites and in Corsham, Wiltshire, at Paradigm's Hawthorn site.

Davies, said: “Future operations require that our Armed Forces are given access to the best possible communications and this new satellite will go a long way to ensuring this.”

Further information:
Ministry of Defence