Ministers Pressed to Award £2.4bn Satellite Deal to Airbus
The government is under pressure to award a £2.4bn military satellite contract to Airbus rather than an American rival, in a decision that pits industrial sovereignty against the transatlantic relationship, according to reporting on Friday. Supporters of the European bid argue that Britain’s secure communications should not depend on a foreign supplier, particularly amid strains with Washington over defence and energy.
The contract, for a constellation of secure military communications satellites, has become an early test of how Mr Burnham’s government balances close ties with the United States against the case for backing European and domestic industry. Awarding the work to Airbus, which employs a substantial British workforce, would chime with the government’s emphasis on home-grown jobs and strategic autonomy; choosing the American bidder could deepen ties with the Trump administration at a delicate moment. Ministers have yet to decide. Watch for the procurement decision and any lobbying from Washington.