UK lacks defence strategy, MPs say, as plan unveiled for more weapons factories UK politics live

"In a news release, the Ministry of Defence says Healey will commit to building the factories of the future in Britain and expects industry to break ground on the first energetics factory in the next year. The MoD says: The defence secretary will confirm that MoD has now funded a number of feasibility studies for the new energetics factories to kickstart high-volume energetics production at scale for the first time in nearly two decades."

"The engineering design work on the first of these factories has been commissioned with a view to start production for UK armed forces and to enable our continued support to Ukraine. Potential sites include Grangemouth in Scotland, Teesside in Northeast England, and Milton Haven in Wales. The factories will produce the components essential for bolstering the UK's weapons arsenal including propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics."

Thirteen sites have been identified for new munitions factories, with feasibility studies funded and engineering design work commissioned for the first energetics factory. Industry is expected to begin breaking ground on the first energetics plant within a year, aiming to kickstart high-volume production of propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics for UK armed forces and support to Ukraine. Potential sites include Grangemouth, Teesside and Milton Haven. The defence secretary will link these investments to budget decisions intended to prevent a return to an underfunded military. A Commons defence committee report warns that the UK's defence industrial base is not yet configured for sustained conflict readiness.

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