Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Rejected
Prioritise procurement of homegrown responsive launch services from domestic UK providers for defence.
Recommendation
The Ministry of Defence should prioritise the procurement of homegrown responsive launch services from domestic UK providers that can deploy satellites within days or weeks in response to emerging threats. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that the Ministry of Defence is not currently in a position to implement responsive launch services, as Space Command is focused on initial capabilities and currently has no requirement for independent launch systems.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
• The Ministry of Defence is not currently in a position to implement any recommendation related specifically to responsive launch services as Space Command remains focussed on building out initial capabilities. • The Ministry of Defence maintains a requirement for assured access to commercially developed launch capabilities. Although the Ministry of Defence does not currently have a requirement for independent launch systems, the Ministry of Defence continues to support the UK Government’s launch ambitions. • While the UK launch industry is in its early stages, collaboration between government and industry, and with international partners, will be key in building a scalable and sustainable launch capability. We are supporting this through a number of channels, including the NATO STARLIFT project, through which we have sought opportunities to promote UK industry and position UK launch solutions at the forefront of multinational capability cooperation.