Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Babcock Team Aurora develops plans for MoD sat comms

Defence Space

Babcock Team Aurora develops plans for MoD sat comms

Babcock-led Team Aurora is putting collaboration, continuity and responsiveness at the heart of its solution to support the UK’s the defence satellite communications system.

Image by Willy Barton / copyright Shutterstock

The SKYNET 6 Service Delivery Wrap contract will include the provision of satellite operations management and through-life support for the UK’s Ministry of Defence.

Down-selected last year, Team Aurora – led by Babcock and including GovSat, Intelsat and SES - has gone forward to the next stage of the competition with its plans progressing at pace.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Together the team brings a wealth of both international public and commercial expertise to support the delivery of the contract, and will put partnership with the Ministry of Defence at the centre of its delivery approach.

Backed by its unique, collective experience across defence and satcom operations, Team Aurora will maximise the use of existing infrastructure to bring efficiencies, leverage its extensive experience as a UK service delivery and support provider, and provide value for money by bringing technological innovation from the outset of contract.

Skynet 6 SDW will provide services necessary to support the current Skynet 5 infrastructure, and the successful transition and continuous delivery of service for future Skynet operations.

Matthew Parnell, Babcock’s Defence Systems Technology Director, on behalf of Team Aurora, said: “Bringing insight and engagement from day one, Team Aurora is focused on providing an uninterrupted, highly available service that is responsive and brings an assured end to end approach for the Ministry of Defence.

Advertisement
ODU RT

“We will put people at the centre of the service. Developing a culture of collaboration, Team Aurora will invest time to deliver value back through knowledge transfer and will grow a one-team ethos with our customer and the supply chain.”

 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Apache support drones get £10m boost

Defence

Apache support drones get £10m boost

18 May 2026

Fully autonomous drones which will accompany the British Army’s Apache helicopters are receiving a £10 million investment as Project NYX reaches a new milestone.

RAF Typhoons deploying APKWS in Middle East

Defence

RAF Typhoons deploying APKWS in Middle East

18 May 2026

A new Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) is being be fitted to RAF Typhoons on operations in the Middle East, providing a low-cost anti-drone weapon to precisely destroy targets for a fraction of the price of missiles currently used.

BAE Systems delivers US Space Force missile warning sensor system

Defence Space

BAE Systems delivers US Space Force missile warning sensor system

18 May 2026

BAE Systems has delivered the sensor subassembly and sensor system controller components for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar (NGP) programme, providing advanced missile warning, technical intelligence and battlespace characterisation mission capabilities, for the US Space Force.

QinetiQ supports Typhoon counter drone missile integration

Defence

QinetiQ supports Typhoon counter drone missile integration

17 May 2026

QinetiQ has supported the RAF in rapidly integrating and testing laser guided, low-cost missiles to RAF Typhoons, which are now being used in the Middle East to defend against drone attacks.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Dstl backed robotics advance transforms military manufacturing

Defence

Dstl backed robotics advance transforms military manufacturing

15 May 2026

Rivelin Robotics, supported by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) expertise, has created microfactory technology that automates the slow, risky manual finishing of 3D printed parts.

Defence firms incentivised to deliver on time

Defence

Defence firms incentivised to deliver on time

15 May 2026

The UK Government is cracking down on waste and delays as defence companies are to be incentivised to deliver equipment on time and on budget with new reforms to Single Source Contract Regulations.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB