- £20 million
contract will directly benefit British
small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout
the supply chain, showing how defence is an
engine for growth.
- A new SME Action Plan will remove barriers
and open up defence supply chains for British
SMEs.
- Hypersonic clay pigeon' target will help new defence
systems to counter advanced missiles and is part of a
trilateral partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United
States.
British small businesses will help develop a
hypersonic clay pigeon' target, a vehicle intended to
represent threats capable of travelling at five times the speed
of sound, under a new £20m investment announced today. The
target will test missile defence systems designed to protect
the UK from advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles.
The contract, awarded to Lockheed Martin UK,
will support around 63 jobs in Bedfordshire, and
have 15 UK SMEs benefitting through the supply
chain, showing how defence is an engine for growth.
It comes as the
government unveils today a new Defence SME
Action Plan, which will open
up opportunities for small businesses across the
defence supply chain.
Known as Project Bowline, the
work will produce a
hypersonic target, designed to act as an advanced
clay pigeon' for next-generation air defence systems,
including sensors and interceptors, to shoot down
as they're developed. This will help the UK
test counter-hypersonic missile capabilities, ensuring that
the Armed Forces lead on producing and countering
the most advanced threats.
The project is part of international collaboration
under AUKUS Pillar 2, the trilateral partnership between
Australia, the UK, and the United States to develop advanced
military capabilities, including hypersonic and
counter-hypersonic technologies.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, MP said:
British businesses are the backbone of our defence industry, and
we're backing them to succeed. Our SME Action Plan will give
firms of every size a clearer, faster route to contracts at home,
while programmes like Project Bowline show exactly how major
defence investment flows through to small businesses across the
UK.
With our commitment to spend £7.5 billion with UK SMEs by 2028
and a further £400 million ringfenced for UK Defence Innovation
every year, defence is delivering growth across the UK,
sustaining skilled jobs and strengthening our security at the
same time.
The new SME Action Plan, led by the Defence Office for Small
Business Growth, sets out concrete steps
to remove the barriers small and medium businesses
face when working with defence opening up supply
chains, simplifying procurement and creating accessible
opportunities across the defence industry. The
plan will simplify processes at all stages of the
contracting cycle and marks another key step in the
MOD's drive to increase defence spending with SMEs to £7.5
billion by 2028, representing a 50% increase on the
current spend.
The announcements come as the Defence Secretary MP and Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry
MP are championing the UK
defence industry at the Farnborough International Air Show, one
of the world's largest aerospace and defence trade events.
National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said:
Delivering Project Bowline will help ensure the UK stays ahead of
rapidly evolving hypersonic threats. By working with our AUKUS
partners and investing in advanced missile technology in the UK,
we strengthen our national arsenal, boost a key sector in our
economy, and support our ability to deliver effective missile
defence.
The Ministry of Defence already works with around 12,000
SMEs through its supply chain, and that work has only
accelerated in the year since publication of the Modern
Industrial Strategy and Defence Industrial
Strategy. That work has included: the launch of the
Defence Growth Deals and Defence Technical Excellence
Colleges; the award of thirteen British-based SMEs
contracts of up to £4 million each from the Defence
Unicorn Fund; and
the ringfencing of £400 million
annually for UKDI to accelerate innovation.
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:
We welcome the publication of the SME Action Plan today it is a
positive and timely step towards unlocking the full potential of
the UK's defence industrial base. Smaller businesses including
more than 1500 ADS members form our industrial bedrock,
delivering innovation, agility and critical capabilities
throughout the UK.
Commitments to simplifying procurement processes, improve access
to opportunities and increase engagement with smaller businesses
will help ensure that innovative UK companies can compete, invest
and scale with confidence.
We look forward to working closely with Government and our
members to deliver this ambition into tangible opportunities for
businesses across every region of the UK.
