The global defence environment is undergoing a seismic shift. The question is no longer about whether the UK can keep pace, but how quickly it can adapt to ensure its readiness in an increasingly contested world.
From Ukraine’s persistent shortages of air defence missiles to the subsequent strain on Western inventories, the ability to sustain munitions at scale has become as decisive as the platforms that deliver them. Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East and the continuing conflict in Ukraine, the British defence industry finds itself at a turning point. Operating amid historic underinvestment in defence spending and the delayed publication of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), both primes and SMEs across the sector continue to grapple with uncertainty around demand signals, investment timelines and the ability to scale production at the pace required.
However, alongside these clear challenges, there is a growing recognition that this new strategic reality presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink how defence is delivered, at pace and at scale.
Our recent roundtable event, hosted in partnership with Jacobs and featuring Major General Adrian Reilly as a key speaker, highlighted the importance of moving towards a more fundamental reconfiguration of how defence capability is designed, produced, and sustained.
This paper explores the lessons defence can draw from other high-performing industries, and the practical steps needed to build an “always-on” industrial base capable of delivering sustained readiness in an increasingly uncertain world.
