Airbus warns UK could lose role in European space industry

Summary

Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury has written to Andy Burnham warning that choosing US rival Lockheed Martin to build the UK’s Skynet military satellites could cost the country a key role in Europe’s space industry. The £2.4bn contract is the focus of a last-minute lobbying effort, and Faury warned that the choice could affect the UK’s position in military satellites for decades.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   16 Oct 2026, 14:47 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury wrote to Andy Burnham warning that choosing Lockheed Martin for the £2.4bn Skynet satellite contract could cost the UK a key role in Europe’s military satellite industry.