SKYNET Enduring Capability (SKEC) programme
Engage with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on SKYNET Enduring Capability (SKEC), the next generation of solutions for future satellite communication programmes.
About the SKYNET Programme
SKYNET is a family of military communications satellites, currently operated for the MOD, that provides strategic communication services to the UK Armed Forces and allies. SKYNET 5 is the most recent generation of this family.
The SKYNET Enduring Capability (SKEC) programme will deliver the next era of satellite communications (SATCOM) to the MOD using new space assets and a way to monitor and control them. These assets will also be supported by additional commercial services to provide a reliable and robust communications service.
About SKEC
The MOD SKEC team are currently defining the future of the MOD’s satellite communications capabilities. New technologies and services in the space sector are emerging all the time, along with new threats, risks and hazards as space gets busier and more competitive.
In the same way that mobile phones need more data and bandwidth, with every new user and new technology, so do military communications and these demands are growing quickly.
To meet these additional demands, the MOD SKEC team want to build a network of satellites, ground stations and other user services to provide first-class communications for government, allies and especially our defence personnel, whether they’re on operational duty or keeping in touch with family and friends while deployed.
The SKEC space segment will consist of two separate procurements, as follows:
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A Narrowband Satellite System (UHF) requirement which will be delivered through a dedicated satellite (GEO orbit)
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A Wideband Satellite System (WSS) requirement which will be delivered through a procurement for multiple medium-sized satellites (GEO orbit), including X and Mil Ka-band payloads
Get involved with the SKEC programme
To build this new network the MOD SKEC Team would like to work with innovators in industry, academia and other government bodies, including our closest allies, to understand new trends and new opportunities and to encourage research and development.
To meet the needs of SKYNET, we are currently investigating:
- new ideas, capabilities and services
- the exploitation of our existing systems and information
- terminals, ground equipment and other infrastructure
- ways to improve our network efficiency and customer satisfaction
- tools and technologies to deal with risks, hazards and hostile threats
- using combinations of the best available military and civilian SATCOM services
- new technologies to invest in, develop and encourage
- future technologies and ways to improve the management of our core network.
Industry engagement
Previous industry engagements for the SKEC programme include the following:
- UHF Hosted Payload RFI: August 2020
- Satellite Bus Design and Manufacturing RFI: September 2020
- Future Acquisition Strategy RFI: March 2021
- Assured Capability Protective measures: June 2021
- Industry Engagement Day: May 2022
- Industry Engagement Summary Briefing Document and RFI: July 2022
- SKEC NSS PQQ Release: August 2022
- SKYNET Enduring Capability Commercial Satcom: October 2022
- Defence Digital Space, Technical Threat Briefing: February 2023
- Defence Digital Space, Technical Threat Briefing second event: March 2023
The MOD is continuing to develop the SKEC requirement set and we are taking the time to ensure that this is properly defined and articulated clearly.
SKEC WSS Pre-PQQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire)
The SKEC Delivery Team invites industry to respond to the WSS Pre-PQQ.
The SKEC project will deliver the next era of SATCOM to the MOD using new space assets. This procurement is for the design and manufacture of up to three wideband GEO satellite systems, associated ground equipment, and launch operations to meet PASE dates incorporating measures to deliver an Assured Capability. The requirement will include high availability, military hardened satellite systems, incorporating X-Band and Mil-Ka payloads.
These satellite systems, and the procurement, are known as the ‘SKYNET Enduring Capability Wideband Satellite System’ (SKEC WSS).
The WSS Pre-PQQ can be accessed via the Defence Sourcing Portal.
You can find previously published information about the WSS procurement, and the wider SKEC programme, on our collaborative site Defence Share.
This is a secure site and if you wish to apply for access, please request this by emailing UKStratComDD-CM-SatcomSKEC-IE@mod.gov.uk. Information can also be found on this webpage.
SKEC WSS Industry Engagement
The SKEC Delivery Team will be conducting an Industry Engagement Day at The Defence Academy, Shrivenham Thursday 27 April 2023.
The aim of the day is to provide information to industry on the WSS procurement, which will include the following:
- a strategic overview of the WSS procurement
- briefings on the construct of the Statement of Requirement document
- an overview of requirements relating to Technological Capital
If you wish to register for a SKYNET Defence Share account, or have any other questions, please contact the SKEC team at UKStratComDD-CM-SatcomSKEC-IE@mod.gov.uk.
SKEC WSS Update
The SKEC Delivery Team continues to mature the WSS requirement set, and is able to provide the following update:
The SKEC team will launch the WSS procurement later this calendar year (2023).
SKEC NSS invitation to negotiate
The MOD SKEC Delivery Team is pleased to announce the launch of the SKEC Narrowband Satellite System (NSS) Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) hosted on AWARD.
The SKEC Project will deliver the next era of SATCOM to the MOD using new space assets. Beyond-Line-of-Sight UHF narrowband communications remains a core element of the MOD’s SATCOM portfolio and this procurement is for a single UHF geosynchronous satellite and its control system. The satellite is required to meet NATO STANAG 4681 Ed 2 and/or MIL-STD-188-100 standards.
The satellite is known as the ‘SKYNET Enduring Capability Narrowband Satellite System’ (SKEC NSS).
A Contract Bidders Notice has been published on DSP. The SKYNET EC Team look forward to Bidder’s engagement in this procurement.
SKYNET Enduring Capability Industry Engagement Day
The MOD SKEC Team held an Industry Engagement day on 19 May 2022 at Space Park Leicester.
During this engagement day, the SKEC team provided industry with an update on the separation of the Narrowband Satellite Systems (NSS) and WSS procurements, which included:
- updates from previous industry engagements during 2021
- an outline of the current NSS and WSS top-level capability requirements
- indicative timelines for the NSS procurement and WSS engagement
- an outline of the Operational Independence and Capability Protection factors
All briefing material, an audio of the presentation and the responses to questions received on the day has been made available on the SKYNET Defence Share portal.
If you wish to register for a SKYNET Defence Share account, or have any other questions, please contact the SKEC team at UKStratComDD-CM-SatcomSKEC-IE@mod.gov.uk.
SKEC Industry Engagement Summary Briefing Document and Request for Information
Following the SKYNET Enduring Capability Industry Engagement Day, the MOD published the SKEC Industry Engagement Summary Briefing Document and Request For Information (RFI) and supporting documentation on Defence Share.
The RFI will be used to support the ongoing development of the SKEC procurements and seeks to gather information from industry in the following categories:
- Technical Requirements and Timelines
- Operational Independence Requirements
- Social Value
- Other considerations
This RFI was closed at 12:00 (GMT) on 05 July 2022. The MOD would like to thank all participants for their submissions.
Requests for Information
The SKYNET Programme will at various times release RFI to industry in order to examine specific capability or technology topics. Formal publication of RFIs will be via the Defence Share portal. For information on how to access and register for Defence Share please see below or contact the SKEC Team.
SKEC Technical Seminars
The SKEC Team would like to invite industry, academia and other bodies to a series of MOD facilitated seminars on satellite technology, to discuss innovative ideas, approaches and capabilities that could be relevant to the project, initially with a focus on:
- propulsion technologies
- launch strategies
- inter-satellite links
- communications security
- telemetry, tracking and command technologies
- ground segment and global footprint
- satellite-based situational awareness technologies
- in-orbit servicing
It is anticipated that the SKEC satellites will be in-service until at least 2040 and the MOD are interested in both current and emerging technologies in these areas.
Contact the MOD SKEC Team if your solutions could enhance any of the key satellite performance metrics (communications throughput, power generation capacity, propulsion capability), or other important system drivers including timescales, costs, interoperability, risk and resilience; and the system’s geographic coverage.
Contact us
If you think you and your team could help the MOD SKEC Team meet any of these challenges, then we’d be very interested to hear from you. Please contact us at UKStratComDD-CM-SatcomSKEC-IE@mod.gov.uk.
More information
You can find out more information on our collaborative site Defence Share. This is a secure site and if you wish to apply for access please request this by emailing the workspace manager at UKStratComDD-CM-SatcomSKEC-IE@mod.gov.uk.
There is also further information on the SKEC programme and other MOD contracts on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). You can login or register as a user on the official e-sourcing platform which advertises new contract opportunities tender and information on doing business with the MOD.
Suppliers should register for access using the supplier registration button on the DSP homepage.
To access SKEC and other opportunities in the Defence supply chain follow @defenceproc on Twitter.
Last updated 1 June 2023 + show all updates
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The SKEC delivery team invites industry to respond to the Wideband Satellite System Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (new section, 'SKEC WSS Pre-PQQ').
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Webpage updated with most recent information about past events and invitations.
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Added section on SKEC Narrowband Satellite System (NSS) Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) release on Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and updated previous Industry Engagement events.
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Extension of SKEC IE RFI closing date to 12 July 2022 from 5 July 2022.
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Removed sections: "SKYNET Assured Capability (AC) Consultation", and "SKYNET Future Acquisition Strategy" Added new "SKEC Industry Engagement Summary Briefing Document and RFI" section.
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Addition of ' SKYNET Enduring Capability Industry Engagement Day' section.
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SKEC Industry Engagement Day - Calling Notice - The SKEC Delivery Team invites industry to attend the SKEC Industry Engagement Day on 19 May 2022 at the Space Park Leicester.
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Updated the page with news on an upcoming industry day.
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Updated page content.
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Updated text in the Industry engagement section.
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Updated the: SKYNET Enduring Capability (SKEC) programme page.
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Addition of: SKYNET Assured Capability (AC) Consultation Advance Notice section.
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Updated content: RFI extension date is now until 30th April.
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Updated the bullet points under the SKEC Technical Seminars heading.
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Updated the information under the 'SKYNET Future Acquisition Strategy: RFI' heading.
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Updated the page content as of 22 February 2021.
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First published.