SKYNET 6 (AKA FBLOS)
MOD · MOD_0100_1516-Q1
Department page: Ministry of Defence
| Data as at | Rating | End date | Whole-life cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Amber (the department's own assessment) | 31 December 2041 | Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests. |
| March 2025 | Red (NISTA's independent assessment) | 31 December 2041 | Section 43 - Commercial interests |
| March 2026 | Red (NISTA's independent assessment) | 31 December 2041 | Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests |
Each year’s cost is shown with its price basis. Costs are not compared between years: the March 2024 and March 2025 reports state no price basis, and from March 2026 costs are in 2024/25 prices.
The department’s commentary
This is the department’s own commentary. It may use different prices from the table above, so its figures may not match.
March 2026
Rating: Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Red. This is primarily due to the following factors.. 1. Significant disparity between the programme’s scope and financial provision remains and cannot be aligned until the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan is known. 2. Resourcing constraints continue to impact delivery at programme level. Sub-par supplier performance continues to delay delivery of the first SKYNET 6 satellite.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 31/12/2041.
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests
March 2025
Rating: The Infrastructure Project Authority's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 24/25-Q4 is RED, compared with the project's assessment last year of AMBER. This is due to the following factors. Departmental wide resourcing and recruitment constraints have led to workforce shortages. Coupled with sub-par supplier performance has delayed delivery of the first SKYNET 6 satellite.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 23/24-Q4, the project's end-date at 24/25-Q4 remained at 31/12/2041. This is primarily due to the following factors. [text ends here in the published file]
Cost: Section 43 - Commercial interests
Source: NISTA Annual Report 2024-25 (data)
March 2024
Rating: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the Senior Responsible Owner's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 23/24-Q4 has remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. Transition to a new Skynet Service Continuity Contract was successfully completed in February 2024. However, supply chain issues will delay Satellite delivery. The Programme continues to be impacted by people resource shortfalls exacerbated by civil service recruitment restrictions imposed in 2023.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the project's end-date at 23/24-Q4 remained scheduled to finish on 2041-12-31.
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests.
Source: IPA Annual Report 2023-24 (data)
Names, figures, dates, ratings and commentary are as the department reported them. Where a rating, cost or date is withheld, the file’s wording is shown. Every major project →