Major Defence Investment Unveiled
Defence Secretary John Healey has announced a significant expansion of Britain's military manufacturing capacity with plans to establish 13 new munitions factories across the United Kingdom. The announcement comes exactly one week before Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to present her first budget, signalling the government's commitment to strengthening national defence capabilities.
Strategic Locations and Production Timeline
The Ministry of Defence has identified multiple sites for the new facilities, including Grangemouth in Scotland, Teesside in Northeast England, and Milton Haven in Wales. These factories will specialise in producing 'energetics' - the essential components for weapons systems including propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics.
According to the MoD, engineering design work has already been commissioned for the first factory, with industry expected to break ground within the next year. This initiative marks the first major expansion of high-volume energetics production in nearly two decades.
Addressing Defence Readiness Concerns
The timing of this announcement coincides with a critical report from the Commons defence committee, published today, which warns that Britain lacks a comprehensive plan for homeland defence. The report highlights significant challenges in the UK's defence industrial base, including capacity limitations, skills shortages and procurement issues.
Healey emphasised that the government's decisions in the upcoming budget would ensure there is no return to the "hollowed out and underfunded" armed forces of previous years. The defence secretary committed to "building the factories of the future in Britain" during a press conference held in Downing Street.
The MoD has funded several feasibility studies to kickstart production, aiming to serve both UK armed forces and continued support for Ukraine. The government faces pressure to implement reforms outlined in the strategic defence review and establish the promised defence readiness bill, which the committee notes "has not yet been written".
