Written question asked by James Cartlidge (Conservative) on Friday, 29 August 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Monday, 8 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Skynet

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 49 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when will the first departmental review of the (a) SKYNET 6A and (b) SKYNET 6EC satellite communications programmes (i) commence and (ii) conclude.

Answer: The Skynet 6 programme undergoes formal quarterly reviews and is subject to regular review by the National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority, the next is scheduled for November 2025. Those reviews consider the resilience and operational relevance of the planned Skynet 6A and EC capabilities, which are also continuously assessed against projected operational demands and emerging threats. Where necessary, adjustments are then made across the entire Ministry of Defence Space enterprise to both ground- and space-based elements.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 70768
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Skynet
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Written questions
House of Commons; Skynet
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer: Yes
Subjects: Skynet
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk