Defence News – Early July 2026
Rolls-Royce Submarines has begun construction work on a major expansion of its Derby manufacturing base as it ramps up production for UK and Australian submarine programmes.
The company has officially broken ground on a new manufacturing facility at its Raynesway site, part of a wider investment programme that will more than double the size of the operation.
The expansion will add more than 100,000 sq. m of manufacturing and office space and create 1,170 skilled jobs across engineering, manufacturing, and support functions.
The investment is designed to increase production capacity for current and future submarine programmes operated by the Royal Navy and under the AUKUS defence partnership between the UK, Australia, and the US.
Sourced from The Business Desk
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UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export credit agency, can announce a new £50 billion Defence Export Fund. This increases UKEF’s total capacity to £130 billion, with £50 billion of new support on top of its existing £80 billion limit, the largest expansion to UKEF’s financial support in its 100-year history. It will be used to support large-scale UK defence exports and strengthen Britain’s competitiveness in a rapidly growing global market.
This allocation will support British defence companies of all sizes, those that already export or are looking to expand internationally. This support will provide them with what they need to compete for major contracts on the world stage. While allowing the UK’s allies to benefit from a powerful package that combines our world-leading defence sector with a competitive, government-backed finance offering.
Sourced from gov.uk website
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At least six new warships will be built for the Royal Navy under the Defence Investment Plan, delivering the UK’s most advanced maritime air defence capability and keeping British shipyards working for decades to come.
The Common Combat Vessel will replace the current fleet of six Type 45 destroyers, with delivery expected from the early 2030s. Unlike its predecessors, the new warship will act as a control hub for uncrewed systems – extending the Navy’s reach, resilience, and firepower without a proportional increase in crew or cost.
Sourced from gov.uk website
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David Brown Defence, which is part of David Brown Santasalo group, has confirmed it is being acquired by German-based RENK Group AG.
The long-established Huddersfield-based firm said the deal marked a “significant and positive step forward,” supporting David Brown Defence’s future growth across its defence applications.
The West Yorkshire company has over 100 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of transmission systems for naval and land-based defence systems.
It employs around 530 people and is a supplier to some of the most important armaments programs for the UK and allied armed forces.
Sourced from TheBusinessDesk
