New drone factory opens in Suffolk to boost Ukraine’s Armed Forces against Russia’s war
- Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers open new factory in Suffolk, creating up to 500 jobs and boosting economic growth.
- Factory to produce cutting-edge drones, providing critical support in Ukraine’s fight for freedom, four years on from Putin’s illegal invasion.
- The UK stands with Ukraine, with over £1 billion committed for the country’s air defences since July 2024.
Powerful new Royal Navy warship programme advances as milestones reached for two ships
- Steel cut for Royal Navy frigate HMS Bulldog and HMS Active ‘rolled out’ at Rosyth, marking key production milestones.
- Ship building programme sustains 1,250 high-skilled jobs across the Type 31 programme and 1,250 in the UK Supply Chain.
- The two British-designed Type 31 frigates will form a vital part of the Royal Navy’s future hybrid fleet, delivering on the Strategic Defence Review.
Bristol’s apprentices celebrated as the future of the defence industry
- Defence Minister celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with visit to Babcock in Bristol.
- 4% growth means defence supported 25,000 apprenticeship roles nationally in 2025, with the Armed Forces among the top providers.
- Biggest defence skills investment in decades as £182 million package creates well-paid roles from cyber security to submarine engineering.
- Applications to become one of the five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges closes on the 16th of February.
UK announces urgent new air defence package for Ukraine worth over half a billion pounds
New half a billion pound package of air defence for Ukraine, including £150 million for NATO PURL, and additional 1,000 UK-manufactured missiles.
Student skills investment to boost UK defence industry
- £80 million investment to boost UK skills for defence careers of the future
- Universities and colleges will be able to offer more places to students on key courses through the Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy
- Growing defence skills will meet industry need and bolster UK national security
Half a billion investment to upgrade RAF Typhoons and secure 1,500 British jobs
- More than half a billion in funding committed this week to upgrade Britain’s Typhoons – including advanced radar upgrades – securing over 1,500 UK jobs.
- Defence Secretary John Healey visits Leonardo UK in Edinburgh, where hundreds of millions will be invested in cutting-edge radars manufactured in Scotland.
- Investment delivers on Strategic Defence Review commitment to continue upgrading Typhoon as the backbone of Britain’s air defence.
500 students now learning latest digital and cyber defence skills through MOD scheme in Lancashire
- 285 students are the latest cohort to benefit from the Defence Digital & Cyber Bursary scheme, taking the total to 500
- This follows expansion of the scheme in October 2025 to 10 colleges across the North-West
- The Digital & Cyber Bursary helps to inspire the next generation of diverse cyber talent, delivering on priorities set out in the Strategic Defence Review to keep Britain safe
UK accelerates £200 million of funding for deployment to Ukraine as air defence support stepped up
UK is now accelerating £200 million to equip UK Armed Forces with new kit to be ready to deploy as part of the Multinational Force for Ukraine.
Armed forces to launch ‘Gap Year’ scheme for young people to bolster skills and leadership
Armed Forces to launch “gap year” Foundation Scheme in 2026 to give under-25s experience of armed forces
2025 sees highest British defence exports since records began in huge boost to workers and companies
- UK secures over £20 billion in defence exports to allies in 2025, expected to be the highest since records began over 40 years ago
- Deals include UK’s largest ever warship export agreement and largest fighter jet sale for a generation
- Over 25,000 British jobs directly supported by these deals for decades to come
Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation
- UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) invests over £140 million in its first year into new drone systems
- Rapid innovation investment supports British SMEs, Micro-SMEs and universities
- Advanced drone and counter-drone systems for UK Armed Forces and to counter Russian drone threat
UK “All In” on AUKUS submarine and tech delivery as partnership powers full steam ahead
- AUKUS partnership “full steam ahead” as US review concludes and focus shifts to delivery.
- UK has committed £6 billion to AUKUS in the last 18 months alone, bolstering Britain’s security and driving growth.
- Continuous UK submarine building under AUKUS set to deliver up to 12 new attack submarines and support over 20,000 British jobs.
Work starts on the future of naval support in boost to British jobs
- Steel cutting ceremony at Appledore site marks start of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) build programme for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
- RFA Resurgent was named at the ceremony by Commodore RFA, Cmdre Sam Shattock.
- Follows £115 million direct investment into four UK shipyards, including Harland & Wolff Belfast, creating 1,200 skilled jobs and deliver on the government’s Plan for Change.
100 new jobs created as drone factory opens in Swindon
Factory will build next-generation uncrewed systems and loitering munitions.
UK “building the factories of the future” as government launches next phase of new munitions and energetics factories
Multiple sites across the UK for new factories to make munitions and military explosives to boost the UK’s warfighting readiness have been identified as the government moves to the next phase of building the factories of the future.
Government launches ‘Back British’ industry call to action to boost UK jobs, businesses, and skills
New measures will look to ensure that UK defence investment — even with overseas companies — benefits British business, British jobs and British skills
Jobs boost as new storage facility opens in Cumbria to support UK Armed Forces
The newly-established Longtown storage facility will house mission critical equipment, from body armour to spare parts with on-site rail network ensuring faster delivery to frontline forces and reduce costs.
Boost to jobs and military capability with new defence equipment system
New £320 million contract for a platform to revolutionise how the Armed Forces manage and maintain defence equipment to help the military make better decisions faster will create 100 new highly-skilled UK jobs.
King Charles III marks historic milestone for nuclear submarine programme
- Royal Navy’s newest attack submarine is commissioned by His Majesty the King as Barrow receives Royal Port status.
- Government delivers on nuclear deterrent ‘triple lock’ as fourth and final Dreadnought Class submarine enters production.
- Tens of thousands of defence nuclear jobs and apprenticeships supported across the UK, making defence an engine for growth and delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.
Jobs boost as UK set to build military aircraft for United States for first time in over fifty years
- More than 150 jobs to be created in Birmingham by new contract to deliver advanced surveillance aircraft for US Air Force, with a further 190 jobs supported across the UK
- Contract delivers an additional over £36M to UK economy and cements world-leading status of Britain’s defence industry which will help build military aircraft in the UK for the United States for the first time in over fifty years
- Builds on UK-US special relationship, deepening defence industrial ties and boosting national security while making defence an engine for growth
New strategic partnership to unlock billions and boost military AI and innovation
- New strategic partnership with Palantir to unlock up to £1.5bn investment into the UK to deliver new jobs, growth and national security.
- Palantir announces plans to make the UK its European HQ for defence and create up to 350 new high-skilled jobs, cementing the UK as a state-of-the-art defence technology hub.
- Palantir and UK military to develop AI-powered capabilities already tested in Ukraine to speed up decision making, military planning and targeting.
New drone factory to open in Swindon, creating skilled jobs and strengthening British manufacturing
- A major new drone production factory is set to open in Swindon, creating 1,000 high-skilled British jobs and boosting sovereign manufacturing as the Government delivers the Plan for Change.
British economy sees defence dividend as new figures reveal above inflation increase in spend with industry
- Government spending in the UK defence industry grew by 6% in real terms to £31.7 billion, according to latest figures for 2024/25.
New defence growth deals created to boost local economies under major sector plan
- Defence Industrial Strategy launched by Defence Secretary on visit to Veteran-founded, high-tech UK firm.
- Additional £250 million to unleash the potential of local authorities, businesses and research institutions to support UK defence while boosting economic benefits.
- UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a defence firm, better equipping the Armed Forces and driving economic growth under the Plan for Change.
Defence dividend delivers thousands of UK jobs following exceptional foreign investment
- Unprecedented UK defence sector growth with more than £1.4 billion in foreign direct investment committed in just 12 months.
- More than 1,700 new jobs being created across the UK, delivering on this Government’s Plan for Change.
- Ministers saw British innovation and investment in action with visits to Greenford and Farringdon.
Boost for UK growth and security as Norway selects UK warships in £10 billion partnership
- Major export deal sustains 4,000 UK jobs including more than 2,000 in Scotland.
- £10 billion boost to UK economy is expected to support more than 400 British companies, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.
- Norway’s biggest ever defence procurement deal will see a combined fleet of 13 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates – eight British and at least five Norwegian – operate jointly in Northern Europe, significantly strengthening NATO’s northern flank.