Airbus boss warns Burnham that a US satellite deal could cost Britain its place in European space
The story
The head of Airbus has made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Andy Burnham as Britain nears a decision on who will build its next generation of military satellites.
Guillaume Faury, chief executive of Airbus, which has its headquarters in France, is understood to have written to Burnham warning that choosing the American company Lockheed Martin for the job could cost the UK a key role in the European space industry.
The contract, worth about £2.4bn, covers satellites for Skynet, the system the British armed forces rely on for secure military communications.
In his letter, Faury is said to argue that the choice of supplier will shape Britain's standing in military satellites in Europe for decades to come. The message is part of a last minute push by Airbus to tip the contract its way.
Airbus built earlier generations of Skynet satellites at its sites in Britain, and losing the new contract would be a blow to that work. The government has not yet announced which company it will pick.
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