UK defence companies have told that they able to surge capacity as the country seeks to rearm (Image: Getty)
The UK defence industry has told the Government they are willing and able to surge manufacturing to make the armed forces more self-reliant. Last week, both and French President acknowledged the need for Europe to “step up” amid calls from US President for the continent to take more responsibility for its own security. The Prime Minister also announced that would rise to 2.5% by 2027 just weeks after declaring that he would be willing to put “boots on the ground” in in a peace-keeping capacity.
A Chief Operating Officer at one of the largest UK defence manufacturers told the Express that buying British will ensure that the Ministry of Defence has complete freedom over how it secures and manages the weapons it needs. The boss, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “We are ready. The war in shone a light on the UK supply chain.
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The Shadow Defence Secretary believes a reinvigorated defence sector could boost the economy (Image: Getty)
“Suddenly, several things became problematic, and some of the equipment the UK would have wanted to send to needed the agreement of countries who had supplied parts or software for that equipment. Suddenly, their freedom of action became less clear.”
They added: “The UK buys in a number of munitions from its allies which is fine, but when demand surges and they need more, they can find themselves in a queue.
“Sovereignty is important, freedom of action is important, meaning no other country’s approval is required when immediate action is needed.”
The ability of the UK military to design, manufacture and maintain vital capabilities has been drawn into focus in recent months following a fracturing of the UK’s relationship with the US.
Currently, the UK relies on the US for key capabilities, from nuclear missiles to fighter jets, and fears are growing that the UK could become vulnerable if cooperation from Washington were no longer guaranteed.
Volatility within the White House has led many to call for a “decoupling” from the UK’s reliance on its partner over the Atlantic but Shadow Defence Secretary urged caution on any knee jerk reactions.
He said: “Whilst we shouldn’t get carried away with arguments about how the US might somehow decouple our deep mutual defence ties, irrespective of that, we should be increasing our sovereign capability, giving us industrial resilience and technological autonomy.
“In particular, this would enable us to maximise the economic upside of higher defence spending – delivering prosperity through rearmament. A particular advantage of our domestic defence industry is that it is well spread across the country, whilst jobs in the sector tend to pay above the relevant regional average. Overall, driving rapid rearmament via UK defence companies and SMEs could really boost growth just when we need it.”
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The UK’s F-35 fighter jets are just one of many capabilities procured from the US (Image: Getty)
Nearly 70% of defence spending goes to businesses outside London and the South East, but only 4% goes to small enterprises, meaning that innovative disrupters in the sector often find it difficult to break in.
Conservative MP David Reed, a former Royal Marine, believes that the UK needs to tap into the potential of enterprising and innovative small and medium enterprises and remove bureaucracy, which often deters companies from engaging with the process required to even bid for contracts.
He said: “We need to cut lots of the MOD red tape so that it’s easier for industry to engage with the department. I understand the approach that the MOD has taken in recent decades, but the current situation dictates that there needs to be far greater collaboration between our military, defence civil servants and defence companies.
“We need to make it far easier for innovative small and medium-sized companies (SME) to deliver for our defence. Currently, the process that SMEs must go through to engage with defence is long and clunky, and many of them give up and find business elsewhere. We need the best tech and manufacturing companies to see defence as a reliable partner if we really want to scale our defence procurement.”
The war in Ukraine has shown the effectiveness of drone warfare (Image: Getty)
Last month, Defence Secretary set out plans to overhaul the MOD’s approach to procurement which he claims will ensure that red tape is cut, will see the UK rearm and gain more value for taxpayers’ money.
A new National Armament Director will oversee the UK’s attempt to arm the armed forces, and they will be boosted by an earlier-than-expected boost to the defence budget after Prime Minister announced that the UK would spend 2.5% of GDP by 2027.
For this to be successful, leading British and European firms have stressed the importance of filling the defence industry with confidence that rhetoric on the need to rearm will be matched with orders.
One source told the Express: “We are ready to surge production if demand is there and we will do so if the Government give us stability and certainty of future demand. If you want private companies to invest, we need to think about how we manage procurement programmes.
“Industry struggles if there is no certainty that their commitment in the concept phase is not backed up by certainty that orders will follow. Very often, in the pursuit of creating competition, we reduce the likelihood that companies will have the confidence to invest.”
It is not only through British companies that the UK would be able to boost its economy and reliable supply chain, with arms manufacturers across Europe indicating a willingness to relocate manufacturing operations to the UK if the MOD commits to orders.
The Defence Secretary has vowed to cut red tape and reinvigorate the defence sector (Image: Getty)
Finnish defence company Patria who design and produce armoured vehicles have pledged to relocate manufacturing to the UK and to incorporate British companies across its supply chain where possible.
Hugo Vanbockryck, Senior Vice President at Patria, said: “We would absolutely relocate assembly would procure components, supply parts and technology from the UK wherever possible.
“Within a year of an order being placed, we could supply completed vehicles and within two years, we would be able to supply vehicles made in Britain. After three years, all vehicles would be made in country.”
believes that his new reforms will see the MOD act as an FTSE-100 company, increasing Britain’s preparedness for war and generating investment and wealth.
He added: “We must rearm Britain, and I see this as a new FTSE 100 company within the MOD tasked, if you like, with getting the very best capabilities needed into the hands of our frontline forces.
“This will save the taxpayer at least £10 billion over the next decade, savings that we would reinvest directly into Britain’s defence, drive up British exports and create more defence jobs, more defence apprenticeships in every region and nation across the UK.”