Response to the UK Strategic Defence Review
June 2, 2025 - The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, visited our Govan shipyard in Glasgow today ahead of publishing the Government’s Strategic Defence Review, which outlines the threats facing Britain and the capabilities needed to address them.
The Prime Minister praised the skilled workers and apprentices in Glasgow in a speech highlighting the key findings of the review. Together with Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, he had the chance to tour the shipyard and view progress on the Type 26 frigates which are currently being built for the Royal Navy.
“We welcome the UK Government’s publication of its Strategic Defence Review, including its commitment to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. The review recognises the increasingly uncertain world we’re living in and the capabilities the UK needs to defend our freedom and strengthen our national security now and into the future.
“The Government’s investment rightly balances conventional equipment like combat aircraft, submarines and ships with drones, cyber and other critical new technologies. It also emphasises strengthening supply chain resilience through investing in the UK’s industrial base and the importance of strategic international partnerships with allies through NATO, AUKUS and the Global Combat Air Programme.
“This clear demand signal gives our sector the confidence to invest in boosting capacity, driving efficiencies and developing cutting-edge technologies to meet evolving requirements for the UK and our allies, while driving economic growth through exports and thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country.
“With our partners across the supply chain, we’re confident we can play our role in delivering the UK Government’s vision. We’ve ramped up investment in our business, investing £1bn in our facilities last year alone, including a new shipbuild hall in Glasgow, an artillery factory in Sheffield and expansion of our munitions sites to deliver a sixteen-fold increase in production capacity. At the same time, we’ve increased our investment in self-funded research and development and made strategic acquisitions in drone and counter drone technologies, while growing our UK workforce by around 15,000 people over the past five years.” Dr Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive
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Andrew McDowell
Head of Media, UK
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BAE Systems plc
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