Lockheed Martin has proposed building a satellite manufacturing facility on Tyneside as part of its bid for the UK’s £2.4 billion Skynet military satellite program. The proposal is part of a competition with Airbus to supply Britain’s next-generation military communications satellites.
The factory is estimated to create 500 direct jobs. It could also support 2,000 indirect jobs.
Lockheed Martin says the proposal would help build a sovereign UK space capability, including a UK-based design authority and chief engineer. The Ministry of Defence has not made a final decision.