Paradigm is the prime contractor for the UK Ministry of Defence Skynet 5 contract, which was signed in October 2003 and is now worth £3.6 billion. The programme, procured as a Private Finance Initiative (PFI), provides the next generation of UK milsatcom capability.
Under the Skynet 5 contract, Paradigm is responsible for the provision of all worldwide beyond-line-of-sight communications to the UK Armed Forces up to at least 2020.
The programme provides a range of services, including global mobile voice communications, video conferencing, multimedia-based communications and broadcast communications, as well as supplying a versatile range of ship-borne and land-based terminals, for purchase or lease. Paradigm delivers all UK milsatcom requirements.
Paradigm has contracted EADS Astrium (with EADS Defence & Security as a major subcontractor) for the design, manufacture and delivery of the complete end-to-end Skynet 5 system, including three satellites, launch services, associated control and management infrastructure and a new generation of ship-borne and land-based terminals.
Skynet 5A is the first of a three satellite constellation heralding a new era in military communications. Built to support the most challenging missions, Skynet 5 is hardened to demanding NATO standards.
The world-leading anti-jamming antenna is extremely effective against hostile or non-hostile interference. All transmit beams are steerable and the active antenna forms multiple complex receive beam patterns to maximise terminal performance.
Paradigm’s WelComE (Welfare Communications Everywhere) service allows UK military personnel to make telephone calls and have access to the internet from operational theatres worldwide, as part of the MoD funded welfare package. Paradigm has provided over a million hours of welfare telephone calls and provides internet and e-mail services that are free for use to all UK military personnel deployed on operations overseas.
