The Ministry of Defence is planning to build at least six new munitions plants.
As part of a major rearmament effort, the UK will invest $2 billion in new weapons manufacturing facilities, according to Defence Secretary John Healey.
The announcement precedes the government’s Strategic Defence Review, due to be released on Monday. The plan includes the construction of at least six new factories for munitions and explosives, as well as the acquisition of over 7,000 domestically produced long-range weapons, including drones and missiles. Healey has also committed to increasing defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2034.
“The harsh realities of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine demonstrate that a military’s strength is directly linked to the strength of its supporting industry,” Healey stated on Saturday.
“We are bolstering the UK’s industrial capabilities to better deter potential adversaries and ensure the UK’s security both at home and abroad.”
The Ukraine conflict has exposed significant weaknesses in Western arms production. Senior British military officials have been warning about dwindling stockpiles for several months, the BBC reports.
Opposition politicians have questioned the timing of the announcement, noting that procurement has been delayed over the past year.
“We welcome investment in new munitions factories, but we lack clarity on when they will be operational – we only know that these orders should have been placed much earlier,” said Conservative shadow defense secretary James Cartlidge.
The UK has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, as NATO members in Europe seek to increase military assistance amid concerns that the US, under President Donald Trump, may reduce aid to Kiev.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that foreign military aid will only intensify the conflict without changing its ultimate outcome. Russian officials have also accused former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson of urging Ukraine to abandon peace talks in the spring of 2022 – an accusation Johnson has denied. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed his denial as a “blatant lie.”
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