UK company to build satellite system worth £127m

A new military satellite system, costing £127 million, is being designed and built in the UK.

Airbus stated that the contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) could support about 200 skilled jobs in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and Portsmouth.

The satellite system, named Oberon, is expected to launch in 2027 and will be capable of capturing images on the ground both during the day and at night.

Maj Gen Paul Tedman, commander of UK Space Command, said: "This will enable and enhance UK and allied military operations around the world."

The project is part of the MoD's plan to deploy a constellation of satellites by 2031.

According to Airbus, Oberon will be able to capture images in any weather condition using synthetic aperture radar technology.

Ben Bridge, Airbus Defence and Space UK chairman, said: "Once in orbit, these spacecraft will play a vital role in keeping our Armed Forces safe around the world."