Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2026 to question 38267 on Skynet: Procurement, what are the key named sub-systems that must come from UK sources.
Answer
The SKYNET 6 Enduring Capability Wideband Satellite System procurement remains ongoing. The competition includes requirements designed to maintain critical skills, capabilities and facilities in the UK, including UK sourcing requirements for key sub-systems. Given the live commercial competition, it would not be appropriate to provide further detail on individual sub-systems at this stage. For clarity, the UIN cited in the question should read 39428 rather than 38267.
Verdict: RED (18/100)
The reply confirms that UK sourcing requirements apply to key sub-systems, but it does not name any of them. It says the live competition makes further detail inappropriate to give. The question's specific request therefore goes unmet, and a member of the public would likely need to ask again for the names.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What are the key named sub-systems of the Skynet programme that must come from UK sources? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | Statement 2 confirms that UK sourcing requirements exist for key sub-systems, and statement 3 declines to name them because the live competition makes further detail inappropriate. The reply gives a reason for withholding the names, but it never identifies any of the sub-systems the question asks for, so the literal request stays unanswered. |