Skynet ( satellite ) Skynet is a family of military satellites , now operated by Astrium Services on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence , which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the British Armed Forces and to NATO forces engaged on coalition tasks . The satellites were operated by Paradigm Secure Communications until October 2012 when the organisation was rebranded to Astrium Services . History . In the 1960s satellites became an increasingly important component of signals intelligence ( SIGINT ) . Only two countries utilized satellites for signals and military intelligence , the United States and the Soviet Union , and as a consequence the United Kingdom created Skynet as its own military communications satellite . The Skynet satellite also provided secure and encrypted facilities for the British armed forces . The largest user of the Skynet satellites was the Government Communications Headquarters ( GCHQ ) , who were responsible for more than 80 % of the communications traffic that was subsequently returned to the United Kingdom . Despite the enormous communications capability of Skynet , GCHQ still found the capacity provided by Skynet to be inadequate . In 1972 GCHQ was still the satellites largest funder , and argued for the purchase of an American built Type - 777 satellite instead . GCHQ would later plan their own satellite , Zircon , which was subsequently cancelled . The circumstances around the reporting of Zircon ' s existence would become known as the Zircon affair . The Royal Air Force displayed a model of the Skynet satellite on the children ' s television show " Blue Peter " in 1969 , the show also described the new British satellite control centre at RAF Oakhanger . Models . Skynet 1 . There were two Skynet 1 satellites ( A and B ) ; Skynet 1A was launched on a Delta M on November 22 , 1969 , but the satellite failed after less than a year of operation . Skynet 1B was launched on a Delta M on August 19 , 1970 . Skynet 1B was placed in a geostationary transfer orbit and was abandoned in transfer orbit ( 270 x 36058 km ) due to a failure of the Thiokol Star 37D apogee kick motor . Skynet 2 . Following the operational failure of the Skynet 1A satellite , the timetable for the launch of the Skynet 2 communications satellite was delayed . Skynet 2A was launched on the Delta 2313 by NASA for the United Kingdom on 19 January 1974 . A short circuit in an electronics package circuit board ( on second stage ) left the upper stages and satellite in an unstable low orbit ( 96 x 3 , 406 km x 37 . 6 deg ) that rapidly decayed . An investigation revealed that a substandard coating had been used on the circuit board . Despite being in an unstable orbit , the ground stations successfully located and tracked Skynet 2A and were able to use telemetry readings from the solar panels to determine its alignment . Based on this analysis it was decided to use the alignment thrusters to deorbit the unit , and it was destroyed when it re - entered the Earth ' s atmosphere on 27 January 1974 . Skynet 2B was successfully launched on the Delta 2313 by NASA for the United Kingdom on 23 November 1974 . The Skynet 2 satellites were assembled and tested at the Marconi Space and Defence Systems establishment in Portsmouth , England , and were the first communication satellites built outside the US and USSR . The Skynet 2 system was very successful for its time , and remained in service for several years beyond the originally planned timeframe . Skynet 3 . Was cut due to budget restrictions , the capability being delivered using US assets . This dependence was identified as a weakness during the Falklands war and was one of the contributing factors for the emergence of the Skynet 4 tranche of space vehicles . Skynet 4 . Skynet 4 satellites have few similarities to the earlier generations . The cylindrical body of Skynet 1 and 2 was replaced by a large square body housing antennas with deployable solar - cell arrays . This marks the technological improvement from spin - stabilisation , used in earlier cylindrical satellites , to three - axis stabilisation using momentum wheel s and reaction wheels controlling the satellite gyroscopically . Skynet 4 were the first purely British built satellites , manufacture of 4A , 4B and 4C being carried out by British Aerospace Dynamics ( BAe Dynamics ) . NATO adapted the design for the NATO IVA and IVB communication satellites , also manufactured by BAe Dynamics . Skynet 4A and 4C were launched in 1990 . The improved Stage 2 satellites ( 4D , 4E and 4F ) were built by Matra Marconi Space and Astrium to replace the earlier versions . Improvements included increased power and resistance to electronic jamming . Skynet 4D was launched in 1998 , 4E in 1999 and 4F in 2001 . Skynet 4 provides SHF and UHF services using earth cover , wide area and spot beam coverage . Skynet 5 . Skynet 5 is the next generation of satellites , replacing the existing Skynet 4 Stage 2 system . It has been contracted via PFI to a partnership between Paradigm Secure Communications and EADS Astrium , a European spacecraft manufacturer . EADS Astrium were responsible for the build and delivery of Skynet 5 satellites in orbit , whilst subsidiary company Paradigm will be responsible for provision of service to the MoD . Paradigm have also been contracted to provide communications services to NATO using spare capacity on the satellites . The Skynet 5 satellite is based on the Eurostar E3000 bus design , weighs about 4700 kilograms , has two solar panels each about fifteen metres long , and has a power budget of five kilowatts . It has four steerable transmission dishes , and a phased - array receiver designed to allow jamming signals to be cancelled out . They will also resist attempts to disrupt them with high - powered lasers . The first of the constellation of Skynet 5 vehicles ( Skynet 5A ) was launched by an Ariane 5 rocket at 22 : 03 GMT on 11 March 2007 , in a launch shared with the Indian INSAT 4B civil communications satellite , and entered full service on 10 May 2007 . The launch was delayed from 10 March due to malfunction of a launch pad deluge system . Skynet 5A successfully separated from its launch vehicle and Telemetry was acquired by its dedicated Control Centre approximately 40 minutes after launch . The second Skynet 5 UK military communications satellite ( Skynet 5B ) was launched at 22 : 06 GMT on 14 November 2007 , from Kourou in French Guiana , aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket . This launch was delayed from 9 November due to problems with the electronics on one of the Solid Rocket Boosters , and 12 November due to a fueling problem with the launch pad . At time of launch the Ariane 5 ECA launcher set a new record on this mission , deploying a total payload of more than 8 , 700 kg . The third Skynet 5 UK military communications satellite ( Skynet 5C ) was launched at 22 : 05 GMT on 12 June 2008 , from Kourou in French Guiana , aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket . The launch had been delayed twice . Originally scheduled for 23 May , more checks were carried out on the launch vehicle and the launch was rescheduled for 30 May . A problem with the launch software during pre - launch checks led Arianespace to reschedule the launch for a second time to 12 June . The fourth Skynet 5 UK military communications satellite ( Skynet 5D ) was launched at 21 : 49 GMT on 19 December 2012 , from Kourou in French Guiana , aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket . The programme marks a change of approach in the UK from traditional defence procurement methods to a services - based contract which also includes provision of leased ground terminals , " Reacher " vehicles , the " Satellite Communications Onboard Terminal " ( SCOT ) for ships , and the associated baseband equipment . Initially two Skynet 5 satellites were to be built , with insurance covering any launch loss ; the MoD later decided to have a third satellite built in advance , and later still to have the third satellite launched to serve as an on - orbit spare . Technical specifications . The fleet of military X - band satellites have been specifically designed to support smaller , low powered , tactical terminals . Each Skynet 5 satellite is equipped with : Information assurance . In early 1999 , Reuters reported that the Skynet system was breached by a group of hackers who issued blackmail threats against the MoD . Duncan Campbell reported that the wire reports were wrong . Satellite summary . Notes