BT wins five-year secure connectivity deal with BAE Systems
Fri, 15th May 2026 (Today)
BT has signed a five-year contract with BAE Systems to provide secure connectivity services across the defence group's global network in 40 countries.
The deal includes an option to extend for up to three years. BT will support BAE Systems' UK and international operations through its wider network infrastructure.
BAE Systems' network spans multiple markets and supports staff working in specialist environments. The agreement focuses on secure connectivity for a business operating in defence and related industrial activities.
BT said the work will support access to digital tools and more flexible working across BAE Systems teams. It also linked the contract to demand from organisations in sectors including defence, manufacturing and critical national infrastructure for dependable communications and security services.
The contract follows BT's launch of a sovereign platform for organisations working in sensitive national roles or facing changing regulatory requirements. That wider push has focused on services for customers that need communications systems built around tighter security and operational controls.
Contract scope
For BAE Systems, the agreement is part of a broader effort to reshape its digital environment. The work is tied to its digital transformation programme and to improving operational efficiency across the business.
Large industrial and defence groups have been reviewing network resilience, security and access to digital systems as more operations rely on connected tools across different sites and countries. In that context, communications contracts are increasingly being tied to broader technology change programmes rather than treated as stand-alone telecoms arrangements.
BT presented the contract as part of its long-running work with organisations that run complex, security-sensitive operations. It said its experience in managing large networks and secure services helped underpin the arrangement with BAE Systems.
Chris Sims set out BT's view of the network's role in the partnership.
"Networks are mission-critical to BAE Systems. This partnership is about getting those foundations exactly right, and we have decades of experience delivering secure, complex connectivity for critical organisations that need absolute reliability. By combining our resilient networks with advanced security services, we're giving BAE Systems a platform they can depend on to support the UK's security, now and into the future," said Chris Sims, chief commercial officer, BT Business.
Digital shift
BAE Systems described the contract as part of a wider change to its internal digital estate. Partners will play a central role in helping reshape how staff access systems and work across the organisation.
That reflects a broader trend among large defence and manufacturing businesses, where network design is increasingly tied to productivity, security oversight and the rollout of digital tools across dispersed operations. Companies in those sectors often need to balance tighter controls with demands for easier access to systems in varied working environments.
Dr Mary Haigh outlined BAE Systems' position on that transition.
"We're taking a significant step in our transformation of the Digital ecosystem to deliver a secure, insight-led digitally enabled working environment to power operational excellence across BAE Systems. Our partners will play a critical role by unlocking greater agility, pace and innovation across our business," said Dr Mary Haigh, director digital delivery, BAE Systems.