The UK’s defence industrial strategy is poised for a significant shift, with Airbus Defence and Space urging the government to translate rhetoric into action. As the nation’s leading supplier of military space capabilities, Airbus is keen to see the government prioritise sovereignty and leverage the “significant untapped potential” within the domestic defence sector.
In an exclusive interview with Airforce Technology, Airbus executives Martin Rowse, campaign director, and Kata Escott, managing director, expressed optimism about the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) released in June. The SDR emphasised the need to boost domestic capabilities while enhancing export potential, a direction Airbus welcomes.
“The really interesting bit will be in how the government delivers on that commitment,” Escott observed. “The political rhetoric is all in a great place, but there’s an opportunity here for the government to demonstrate a shift – some of the urgency we saw in the SDR.”
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has outlined plans to invest £182 million in critical defence skills, launch a £250 million fund for defence growth deals, and exploit innovation lessons from Ukraine. NATO allies, including Denmark and the UK, have shown keen interest in adopting Ukrainian-designed weapons systems, reflecting a broader trend in defence collaboration.
Airbus, with its extensive portfolio of military satellite communications (MILSATCOM), claims up to £10 billion in export potential. The company is renowned for Skynet, the UK’s MILSATCOM capability, which supports the United States and 17 other NATO allies. The Skynet 6A satellite, currently undergoing final tests in Portsmouth, is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket later this year, ensuring British military communications well into the 2040s.
“That’s a big wealth generator because it leads to new capability,” Rowse stated. “The enduring Skynet 5 satellites are then evolved into the Skynet 6A satellites, which will be evolved into the WSS [Wideband Satellite System] satellites.”
Airbus Defence and Space UK is currently competing with Lockheed Martin UK for the nation’s WSS contract, a procurement covering up to three tranches of geostationary (GEO) satellites, ground infrastructure, and launch operations. The contract, valued at over £1.5 billion, represents the “single largest space procurement nationally” and is crucial for the growth of the UK’s sovereign space sector.
While Airbus advocates for domestic production, Lockheed Martin UK brings global expertise, having built over 300 mission payloads. The company’s LM 400 satellite bus offers a range of military and civil services, though it currently lacks UK-based satellite production facilities. Lockheed Martin is, however, exploring opportunities within the UK space sector through its space technology office in Harwell.
As the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) is set to be released, the focus will be on how the government translates its vision into tangible actions. Airbus’s call for urgency and commitment underscores the critical role of domestic defence capabilities in shaping the UK’s strategic future. The outcome of the WSS contract will be a key indicator of the government’s commitment to sovereignty and innovation in the defence sector.