The UK government only recently announced a comparable investment of £1.5 billion. This funding will create no less than six new munitions and explosives factories in the country. Defence Secretary John Healey said that this program would help the UK deter future enemies more efficiently wrapping up this kind of response. The new factories will support the production of over 7,000 British-built long-range weapons, contributing significantly to national security and job creation.
Without this investment, Healey warned of what’s at stake in light of rising global tensions. The continuing war in Ukraine has added to the pressure on domestic explosives as well as propellants. The Defence Secretary noted that the UK’s defence spending would rise to 3% of GDP by 2034 at the latest, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening the armed forces. He remarked, “We are strengthening the UK’s industrial base to better deter our adversaries and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad.”
The investment is expected to generate about 1,800 new jobs across the UK’s various regions. This move is a huge economic driver. Chancellor Rachel Reeves echoed this sentiment, stating, “A strong economy needs a strong national defence, and investing in weaponry and munitions and backing nearly 2,000 jobs across Britain in doing so is proof the two go hand-in-hand.”
The Ministry of Defence was clear that this investment will further extend the UK’s artillery production capacity. These capabilities would already have received a tremendous increase thanks to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that’s still raging today. New contracts today are being awarded to develop next generation weaponry. This concerns next-generation light anti-tank weapons (NLAW) and long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, both of which have already been supplied to Ukraine.
Two years ago during a wargame, General Ben Hodges gave a grim prophecy. He shared that the British Army had used up three-quarters of its stockpile in eight days, highlighting the critical need to increase munitions production. Healey acknowledged this reality, stating, “The hard-fought lessons from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine show a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind them.”
Some voices inside of Parliament are raising concerns, specifically about timing. James Cartlidge commented on the necessity of these orders being placed earlier, stating, “We welcome investment in new munitions factories, but we don’t know when they will be ready, only that these orders should have been placed months ago.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace underscored the point that this initiative is an “accelerator for economic prosperity.” He stressed the importance of the UK’s defence industry to the wider economic picture. The Government remains committed to developing highly-skilled jobs in each and every nation and region of the UK. This move is an essential piece of their right smart investment strategy.