- New agreement with Cook Defence Systems will provide vital
spare parts to the British Army armoured vehicle fleet.
- The deal will support 125 skilled jobs in the North-East,
supporting the Government's Plan for Change.
- County Durham-based firm Cook Defence Systems have supplied
parts to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, taking the fight to Russia.
125 jobs are to be supported in the North East through a new
agreement between the MOD and Cook Defence Systems to supply
spare tracks for the British Army's armoured fighting
vehicles.
The three-year deal announced today (18 August), worth
up to £125 million, will see the company supplying spare parts
for all the Army's principal combat vehicles including its new
Challenger 3 tanks, securing investment in advanced manufacturing
techniques and supporting skilled jobs at Cook's County Durham
site.
The announcement supports the Government's Plan for Change:
boosting UK defence spending and our security, backing British
industry, and growing the economy by creating skilled jobs in
communities across the country.
The agreement comes ahead of Ukrainian Independence Day on Sunday
24 August. Cook Defence Systems have played a vital role in
the UK's enduring commitment to Ukraine, supporting donated
British armoured fighting vehicles and as the main manufacturer
of spare tracks for the Soviet-era vehicles used by the Ukrainian
Army.
This highlights how the UK and British industry are working
together to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the
battlefield.
Minister for the Armed Forces, , said:
"This contract not only strengthens our Army's warfighting
capability, but helps sustain hundreds of skilled jobs in the
North East. It's a clear example of the defence dividend - this
Government's historic increase in defence spending supporting
high-skilled jobs across the UK, part of the Plan for Change.
This investment is a clear example of the defence dividend where
higher defence spending, spent with British firms, supports good,
well-paid skilled jobs nationwide.
"The war in Ukraine has taught us that a military is only as
strong as the industry behind it. That's why we're investing more
in our own forces and working with UK industry to scale up
production, support our allies, and secure long-term national
resilience.”
The new agreement delivers on the recommendations of the
Strategic Defence Review, published in June, and the upcoming
Defence Industrial Strategy. By aligning national security and
economic growth, this Government is ensuring that every pound of
taxpayer money spent on defence not only makes our country safer
but contributes to growing the economy.
Director of Cook Defence Systems, William Cook
said:
“As the only British designer and manufacturer of track systems
for fighting vehicles, Cook Defence Systems is critical to the
operational independence of the British Army and allied forces.
“This latest contract directly supports 125 jobs at Cook Defence
Systems and underpins £5m of investment in new plant and
machinery over the next twelve months.
“Our core relationship with the UK MOD is the foundation of our
export success, with Cook Defence Systems currently supplying
British allies in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.”
This comes as part of wider defence investment, with the UK
ramping up procurement of artillery ammunition, drones, and
combat spares in response to lessons learned from Ukraine, whilst
continuing to support them following Putin's barbaric
invasion.
The UK, together with allies, is stepping up support for Ukraine
– providing £4.5 billion of military support this year – more
than ever before. In March this year, the Prime Minister
announced a historic £1.6 billion deal to provide more than five
thousand air defence missiles for Ukraine.
The UK is also stepping up on the supply of drones, with £350
million this year to increase the supply of drones from 10,000 in
2024 to 100,000 in 2025; and the UK has completed a delivery of
140,000 artillery munitions since the start of 2025 in a vital
boost for Ukraine's frontline troops.
