UK Fires Up Defence: £1.5 Billion Boost for Homegrown Weapons and Jobs

The UK government has announced a £1.5 billion investment to establish at least six new munitions and explosives factories. This initiative aims to enhance the country’s defense capabilities by producing over 7,000 British-built long-range weapons, including drones and missiles, over several years. The plan is part of the upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which is set to be published on Monday.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) states that these new facilities will create approximately 1,800 jobs and support the production of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. The investment is expected to increase the UK’s munitions spending to £6 billion during this parliamentary term. Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that the move would strengthen the armed forces and boost British jobs, positioning the UK’s defense industry as an “engine for economic growth.”

The decision comes in response to lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, which highlighted deficiencies in the West’s ability to produce weapons and munitions. Senior British military officers have long warned about the UK’s depleted stockpiles. The government aims to establish an “always on” munitions production capacity that can be rapidly scaled up when needed.

While the Conservatives have welcomed the investment in new munitions, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge has called for “greater ambition for the pace and scale of rearmament our armed forces require.” Chancellor Rachel Reeves added that the investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to delivering both security and good jobs for working people in an uncertain world.