· UK
industry explores potential new
support for regional allies under indiscriminate attack
from Iran.
· Minister for
Defence Readiness and Industry and
National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce bring together
representatives from 13 key UK-based defence companies
to meet Gulf ambassadors and defence attachés.
· Comes as UK
intends to buy further Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM),
manufactured by Thales in Belfast, to supply to British forces
and support partners in the region.
The UK today stepped up its support for Gulf
partners, convening a meeting of defence industry
leaders to reinforce countries in the region under
attack from Iran.
The meeting was convened by , Minister
for Defence Readiness and Industry, and saw representatives from
13 key UK-based defence companies meeting Gulf ambassadors
and defence attachés to explore new industry support for regional
allies. The Defence Secretary, MP, and
Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, North Africa,
Afghanistan and Pakistan, MP,
joined the session to emphasise the urgency of this work.
It comes as the MOD confirmed that the UK intends to buy further
Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM), to supply British forces
and support partners in the region, including with training in
the UK where needed.
Lightweight Multirole Missiles, manufactured by Thales UK in
Belfast, have already proven highly capable for air defence in
the Middle East.
The discussion focused on potential new defensive equipment and
technology that British-based companies could supply at
rapid pace to allies to counter Iranian drone and missile
attacks.
UK industry representatives from both established primes and
innovative new firms attended alongside ambassadors and defence
attachés from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the
UAE, Iraq and Jordan.
Defence Secretary, MP
said:
"Iran's indiscriminate attacks are a threat to Britain, our
allies and our partners in the region. That's why our
dedicated Armed Forces are taking defensive action in the Middle
East.
“A nation's Armed Forces are only as strong as the industry that
supports them. I'm proud of how our military and
industry is stepping up together - just as we are for Ukraine -
to offer rapid support to our Gulf partners. This is the best of
our British industry, innovators and military in action."
It comes as the UK and Ukraine agree a new
world-leading partnership to boost global defensive capability
against the proliferation of low cost, high tech
military hardware, including drones.
Defence industry representatives included leaders from:
· ADS
· MARSS
· MSI
· MBDA
· Frankenberg
· Leonardo UK
· Thales
· QinetiQ
· OSL Ltd
· BAE Systems
· Ocean Infinity
· Cambridge
Aerospace
· Uforce
Representatives present also received briefings from Ministry of
Defence officials on the current strategic situation in the
region and the UK Government's response to the
crisis.
The Ministry of Defence, through the National Armaments Director
(NAD) Group, is working to speed up financing and licensing for
exports to Gulf partners. As part of this, a new Task Force has
been created within the NAD Group to collaborate across
government to support partners across the Middle East working
with UK industry. It will also manage the impact of the conflict
on the UK defence supply chain and gather requirements for stock
replenishment.
This is just the start, and the NAD Group will seek further
opportunities to build on today's event by continuing to work
closely with industry partners and Gulf states.
ENDS
Note to editors:
· All industry
stakeholders present were selected due to their strength in
offering capabilities such as air defence, counter-drone systems,
and command and control software which could be rapidly exported
to countries in the region.
