Don’t waste Britain’s space force, Labour urges

Airbus has called on Labour to support the UK’s military satellite sector as a “springboard” for billions of pounds worth of exports.

And the government was warned that failing to develop its “sovereign capacity” in such an important area would risk weakening the UK at a critical time.

Aerospace company Airbus has teamed up with US-based Northrop Grumman in a competition to run part of Britain’s next ‘SkyNet 6’ programme, which aims to provide secure satellite communications to the military.

But it faces competition from the American company Lockheed Martin and the French Thales.

Meanwhile, a government defense investigation is leaving the defense industry uncertain about future government support.

Ben Bridge, chairman of Airbus Defence and Space UK, urged Britain to support its own space sector.

The former Royal Navy helicopter pilot said: ‘The advantage of a sovereign capability is that you can design, build, operate and then change. In Ukraine we have seen how important it is to respond to a changing environment.

‘The UK is a strong space power. We have a seat at the table when it comes to space warfare, space law and these other issues. We all interact with around 40 satellites a day.

“It is an important topic in our daily lives, as a military topic it is becoming increasingly important. I hope the UK wants to maintain that position.” Airbus is based in France but has employees in the UK, operating satellite production sites in Stevenage and Portsmouth.

Bridge said Britain must “recognise, nurture and consolidate its space capability for the sake of the jobs and value it brings to the UK” and to “export great British technology, capabilities and products”.

That would ‘bring value and prosperity back to the UK, but you also have the added benefit of soft power’.

It comes just weeks after Germany awarded Airbus the contract for its next-generation military satellite system.

Martin Rowse, campaign leader for Airbus Defence and Space, said: ‘In an uncertain world you don’t want to give up your sovereign capability, you don’t want to weaken yourself.’