Telford's skilled manufacturing base is helping equip soldiers
with high-tech equipment and drive the government's growth
mission, Defence Minister has said.
Telford's skilled manufacturing base is helping equip soldiers
with high-tech equipment and drive the government's growth
mission, Defence Minister has said.
Her comments came on a visit today to Rheinmetall BAE Systems
Land (RBSL)'s Hadley Castle Works Factory in Telford, where she
met crucial defence procurement staff and chaired a roundtable
with defence industry leaders from the Telford area, as part of
consultation for the new Defence
Industrial Strategy.
The site is at the forefront of producing the Army's newest tank,
the Challenger 3, which is at the heart of the Army's armoured
warfighting force and will serve as the most lethal tank ever
used by British Armed Forces.
Under a £950 million contract, Challenger 3 production has
generated nearly 300 highly skilled jobs within RBSL, including
130 engineers and 70 technicians, as well as an additional 450
roles supported across the UK supply chain.
Contracts like this are a key part of the UK Government's Plan
for Change, safeguarding national security whilst raising living
standards across the UK with good, skilled, productive
jobs.
Defence investment continues to make a substantial contribution
to the local economy, supporting over 1,500 skilled jobs and
nearly 40 apprentices and graduates in Telford and Wrekin.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, MP, said:
Telford is at the heart of UK defence, and I was pleased to
witness first-hand how our defence industry is equipping the
Armed Forces with 21st-century armoured fighting vehicles.
In the face of global threats, the upcoming Defence Industrial
Strategy will drive economic growth, boost British jobs, and
strengthen national security.
£5 billion is being invested in equipping the British Army with
148 Challenger 3 tanks and 623 Boxer armoured vehicles, planned
to be in service by the end of 2030. These investments continue
to solidify the UK's position as a global leader in defence
innovation and manufacturing.
Will Gibby, Managing Director of RBSL,
said:
We are proud to welcome MP to our Telford facility.
Through programmes like Boxer and Challenger 3, RBSL is committed
to providing sovereign capability for the UK, supporting the
British Army, and investing in the workforce of tomorrow through
our apprenticeship and graduate schemes. Today's visit highlights
the value of UK-based manufacturing and the expertise we bring to
the defence industry.
, Head of Combat Vehicles at
DE&S, the MOD's procurement agency delivering Challenger 3
and Boxer said:
This has been a great opportunity for the Minister to experience
the close collaboration that exists between RBSL, the Army, and
DE&S colleagues to re-establish armoured vehicle
manufacturing in Telford and deliver our two major programmes –
Challenger 3 and Boxer.
The Defence Industrial Strategy underlines the government's
commitment to forging long-term partnerships with the defence
industry. This strategy will ensure economic growth, regional
prosperity, and resilience by supporting skilled jobs and
apprenticeships.
Defence investment continues to make a substantial contribution
to the UK economy. Over 1500 (200 RBSL and 1,497 Leidos)
businesses across the UK are sustained through the supply chain
because of defence investment.
Findings from the British Army's Oxford Economic Report highlight
the major contributions Armed Forces spending makes to the UK
economy. For every £1 directly contributed by the Army, a total
of £2.70 is stimulated through multiplier
effects.
There has also been £169 million in R&D investment and the
upskilling of over 12,000 recruits through apprenticeship
programmes, with 1,400 enrolled in higher education
schemes.
Alongside her visit to the factory and industry talks, Minister
Eagle also had the opportunity to tour the cutting-edge Defence
Fulfillment Centre (DFC). The £83 million DFC at MOD Donnington
plays a crucial role in supporting the UK Armed Forces by
ensuring the efficient delivery of critical equipment and
supplies across the globe.
Operated by DE&S in partnership with Leidos, the DFC
exemplifies innovation within defence logistics and supports
operational readiness. It is one of two major storage and
distribution locations for the Ministry of Defence, the other at
MOD Bicester, with a new facility at Longtown currently in
construction.
Simon Hutchings, VP Logistics Commodities Services
Transformation Programme (LCST) at Leidos, said:
I am immensely proud of what Leidos has achieved to date on the
development of the Defence Fulfilment Centre in Telford and as
the prime integrator for LCST. The flexible capacity and
strategic network resilience we've established have significantly
bolstered defence resilience and enhanced our ability to support
the war fighters with better, more agile adaptive logistics.
Since 2015, the LCST, based at the DFC, has delivered over £1
billion worth of products to the UK Armed Forces, getting
everything from food rations to boots exactly where they need to
be, at the right price and at the right time.
The LCST contract has helped bring the UK MOD into 21st-century,
by identifying how the private sector can be leveraged to support
UK Defence in distributing equipment to military personnel so
they're able to carry out their critical duties, all while
delivering significant value for money to the taxpayer.
