UK Launches New Defence Industrial Strategy

U.K. defence firms will be prioritised in a new industrial strategy announced by Defence Secretary John Healey yesterday in London. 

Signalling the government's seriousness about a new industrial strategy, a war game was happening concurrently to see how the defence field would respond to a full-scale war and if it would sufficiently supply frontline forces if their facilities came under threat. 

The government is trying to put deterrence at the center of its new Industrial Strategy, making it clear to adversaries that the U.K. can innovate just as fast as the Ukrainians over 2,000 km away.  

Additionally, the new strategy will attempt to make up for critical areas of vulnerability in the U.K., including a lack of semiconductors and a reliable source of steel. While the details remain unclear, it is an attempt to reduce the island's dependence on imports for critical materials that power its defence industry.

It is also hoped that a more self-reliant defence industry will be an engine for economic growth.

Supporting this new approach, the government announced the following investments:

• Helsing – is to mass-produce thousands of new AI-enabled drones, forming part of its £350 million investment into the country over the next several years.
• BAE Systems – is to employ a couple thousand more recruits to bolster the training of a new generation that will power this strategy. 
• Babcock – will announce 1,500 more entry-level roles to support the defence of the U.K.
• Rolls-Royce – have opened a new office in Scotland which will fuel regional growth, attract skilled workers, and add 120 new jobs to support the delivery of new submarines. 

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

“Our defence sector should be an engine for jobs and growth, strengthening our security and economy. That requires a defence industry that is better and more integrated - one that can keep our Armed Forces equipped, innovating at a wartime pace, and ahead of our adversaries.”

“We will develop this new Defence Industrial Strategy with industry, with innovators and with workers. We will mobilise the private sector to help face down global threats, direct more public investment to British businesses and create jobs and growth in every nation and region of the UK.”

“National security is the foundation for national stability and growth. We are sending a signal to the market and to our adversaries: with a strong UK defence sector we will make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.”

To read more, please visit the MOD's website.