Lower costs, less regulation and a more motivated workforce with experience and expertise in drone warfare are all encouraging Britain’s arms industry to look east

Why UK defence firms want to make more weapons for Britain… in Ukraine



by theipaper

1 comment

  1. As the British Government awaits the findings of its Strategic [Defence](https://inews.co.uk/topic/defence?srsltid=AfmBOop9YRh_XG8jrQFG3B-Y0IVC237d7U7lEBdwJz2O2pkr9_zZJPv7&ico=in-line_link) Review, industry insiders, government officials and experts say that one thing is certain: a huge amount of British money is set to be spent in [Ukraine](https://inews.co.uk/topic/ukraine?srsltid=AfmBOool1MV06K0CDrww78JoNogpNhvKwGjf1K-3pWeYx09t4w0MYDnu&ico=in-line_link). 

    Naturally, the UK’s commitment of support to Ukraine through the Coalition of the Willing was expected to mean British taxpayer money would continue flowing to Kyiv. But what is expected next goes much further. As Britain and other European allies look beyond [the war](https://inews.co.uk/topic/russia-ukraine-war?srsltid=AfmBOorgQRGvMkdkx40ksm_TrXFfMbntZetsiMVwHsLwrQKUmu-lmZLI&ico=in-line_link) and at their own national security, insiders see Ukraine as a premier destination for the manufacturing of critical, modern equipment. 

    The embattled country is on course to become a major hub for the UK and European defence industry. And the weapons Ukraine produced would not just be for its own war with Putin but for the wider defence needs of the European countries investing there.

    # More land and less regulation

    In some ways putting crucial and very finite UK defence funding into country in such a precarious position might seem a very strange gamble to make. But there are number of contributory factors that add up to an inescapable logic for making the move.

    Firstly, the process has already begun. The British effort to help Zelensky resist the Russian invasion means that [our defence industry has already opened facilities in Ukraine](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-and-defence-industry-stepping-up-support-for-ukraine).

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