Long-term defence commitment in Scotland helps secure jobs and billions in export deals

• Certainty given to Scotland has boosted confidence to secure international work.
• Thales secures export deals worth £1.1 billion, creating and sustaining over 500 jobs in Glasgow.
• Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry and Scottish Secretary to launch Scotland's Defence Growth Deal, further boosting growth and skills.

Hundreds of Scottish jobs are being created as the UK Government's long-term commitment to defence investment in Scotland is helping secure deals with international partners. 

The certainty of the government's dedication to Scotland has paved the way for £1.1 billion in inward investment with defence firm Thales, securing significant export deals that will create and sustain over 500 jobs in Glasgow over the next five years. 

Thales' UK optronics business, headquartered in Glasgow, is already a key contributor to Scotland's economy, supporting nearly 2,300 jobs in total across its supply chain and contributing over £140 million to GDP. 

The latest export successes, built on the company's expertise in advanced imaging, sensors, and communication systems, demonstrate that Scottish-based defence industry competes and wins work at the highest level.

The export deals include:

• A partnership with Norway's Kongsberg to supply thermal cameras and laser rangefinders into their remote weapon stations for armoured fighting vehicle.
• The development and integration of the AI-enabled targeting and surveillance solution, TrueHunter Gimbal Sight, for the German Armed Forces.
• Design and delivery of systems for the first Dreadnought class submarine and main sonar design authority and integrator part of AUKUS and Royal Navy Submarine support and export.

These Scottish exports successes follow the £10 billion Norway Type 26 deal secured by the Government last year - the biggest warship export deal in British history - which supports over 2,000 jobs in Glasgow alone.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said: 

"These deals highlight Scotland as a defence industrial powerhouse – backing jobs and skills for years into the future, all while helping keep the UK secure. 

“Our long-term investment in Scotland is winning work on the global stage for outstanding industry firms such as Thales, delivering for our Armed Forces and making defence an engine for growth.” 

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

"The UK Government is delivering a defence dividend for Scotland. Thales securing more than £1 billion in export orders - creating and sustaining 500 jobs in Glasgow and thousands more in the supply chain.  - is the latest in an impressive line of wins for Scotland.

"Through record funding, the UK Government is transforming our defence sector into an even more powerful engine for growth. Scottish expertise is beating competition from countries all over the world, boosting order books, securing thousands of jobs at home for years to come and strengthening partnerships abroad.

"By backing Scottish industry and our service personnel, we are delivering skilled jobs and growth for communities while keeping us and our allies secure."

Thales currently has 18 graduate apprentices, 13 modern apprentices and 19 graduates, totalling 50 for their early careers cohort in Glasgow.

Phil Siveter, CEO, Thales in the UK, said: 

“Long term commitment from government enables Thales to increase its capability in Glasgow, as well as significantly benefiting the local supply chain. With these commitments, Thales has been able to make significant investments in future talent, as well as a new Skills Academy, located in Glasgow, to support the learning and development of the next generation of engineers.”

Later today [Thursday], Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander will formally launch the Scotland's Defence Growth Deal – collaborative work which will create new opportunities and develop the skills needed to further strengthen Scotland's position as a global leader in defence manufacturing.

The MOD directly spent more than £2 billion in Scotland in 2024/25, directly supporting 11,800 industry jobs and placing 254 contracts with Scottish businesses.