A brand new drone manufacturing unit will open in Swindon to assist produce the uncrewed air methods the UK has despatched to combat Russia in Ukraine, the federal government will announce at present.
The 254,000-square-foot facility shall be operated by Tekever and is because of open in 2026, Defence Secretary John Healey will say at a web site go to later.
It’ll create 1,000 jobs and convey core manufacturing of the AR5 drone to the UK for the primary time, whereas rising capability of current AR3 manufacturing.
The UK has purchased £270m in Tekever drones to assist Ukrainian forces destroy superior Russian air defence methods since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in February 2022.
Will probably be the producer’s fourth UK web site and its largest up to now.
“This new factory is a clear demonstration that this government is making defence an engine for growth across the UK,” Mr Healey is predicted to say.
“Tekever’s expansion will bring high-skilled jobs and world-leading drone manufacturing to Swindon, while strengthening defence supply chains.
“By backing Britain’s defence business, we strengthen each our financial system and nationwide safety.”
Swindon has lengthy had an essential defence position, having produced the Supermarine Spitfire through the Second World Conflict.
The brand new Tekever-run web site can even take over manufacturing of the RAF’s StormShroud functionality.
It comes after defence emerged as one of many key winners of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s spending assessment in June.
The defence funds will enhance from 2.3% of gross home product (GDP) in 2025 to 2.6% in 2027 – the equal of a £600m uplift.
In Might, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer introduced an additional £19m in funding of AR3 Tekever StormShroud drones for the RAF.
Karl Brew, Tekever’s director of defence, stated the Swindon manufacturing unit will play a “central role” within the manufacturing of AR3 EVO methods and guarantee an “advanced, sovereign capability at pace and in close partnership with the UK defence ecosystem”.
