“This is a generational decision that will have permanent consequences if it is made”.

Portsmouth councillors have urged the government to award Airbus a £6bn satellite contract, arguing that choosing a US firm “will effectively end the satellite industry in the UK”.

A notice of motion submitted by Councillor Steve Pitt and Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson calls on the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary to choose Airbus over American rival Lockheed Martin.

The contract covers the UK’s Skynet military satellite programme and is seen as a major decision for Portsmouth, where Airbus supports thousands of jobs.

Engineers on the shop floor at one of Airbus Space and Defence's clean rooms in Portsmouth. | Airbus Space and Defence

placeholder image — Engineers on the shop floor at one of Airbus Space and Defence's clean rooms in Portsmouth. | Airbus Space and Defence

The motion warns that awarding the deal to a US company could undermine Britain’s defence industry and weaken its ability to maintain independent satellite capabilities.

It cites concerns raised by the Royal Aeronautical Society about relying on American technology, particularly given a “volatile and inconsistent US administration”.

The society’s head of research, Professor Keith Hayward, warned the decision could test the Government’s “commitment to defending a sovereign defence industrial base”.

He also warned that losing the contract could lead to the “hollowing out of the UK defence industrial base”.

Councillor Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said he had been raising concerns about the contract since December 2024, when he first wrote to the Government.

Speaking to the full council chamber, Cllr Pitt argued that awarding the contract to Lockheed Martin “will effectively end the satellite industry in the UK – that is unthinkable.”

He added: “It is an error which governments made many years ago which post Falklands War this country said would never happen again.”

The Falklands War in 1982 exposed Britain’s reliance on American military intelligence and satellite technology, prompting calls in Parliament for Britain to develop more defence satellites.

Cllr Pitt added: “this is a generational decision that will have permanent consequences if it is made”.

He said the government should not be “throwing a sop to Donald Trump and his government in America who let’s remember only a few weeks ago were instrumental in discussions with Elon Musk which meant that Ukraine’s ability to access that satellite system was effectively dialled down in order to put pressure on the Zelensky government.

“If he’ll do it them, he’ll do it to us.”

The motion was approved unanimously.