The Ministry of Defence, in partnership with the Wales Office, has announced a landmark £50 million Wales Defence Growth Deal aimed at positioning Wales as the UK’s primary launchpad for autonomous defence technology. The agreement is designed to strengthen Britain’s capabilities in uncrewed systems, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, while creating thousands of high-skilled jobs across Welsh communities.
The deal will expand access to Ministry of Defence test ranges in Wales, including facilities at MOD Aberporth, and widen air corridors across central Wales in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority. These measures will enable more extensive testing of uncrewed aerial systems by both industry and the military. The agreement is expected to support the design, development and manufacture of innovative autonomous platforms operating across land, sea and air domains.
A central feature of the initiative is improving access for Welsh small and medium-sized enterprises to secure defence contracts. By reducing barriers to entry and streamlining security clearances, SMEs will be able to work directly with the MOD on classified projects, rather than relying solely on large prime contractors. This move aims to unlock local innovation, strengthen the domestic supply chain and ensure a more level playing field within the defence sector.
The partners also intend to establish a new Defence Technical Excellence College by September 2027 to train the next generation of defence engineers. The institution will focus on building expertise in autonomous systems and critical materials resilience, reinforcing sovereign capabilities and supporting long-term industry growth. The investment builds on Wales’ existing aerospace and defence strengths, which already employ more than 16,000 highly skilled workers and receive over £1 billion in annual MOD industry spending.
The Wales Defence Growth Deal forms part of the broader Defence Industrial Strategy, which seeks to expand the UK’s defence industrial base alongside a sustained increase in defence spending to 2.6 percent of GDP from 2027. Officials have emphasised that the initiative not only enhances national security and deterrence capabilities but also delivers economic growth, innovation and long-term employment opportunities across Wales.
