A House of Lords committee has called for major changes to military procurement, greater support for British manufacturers and closer working relationships between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and businesses.
The recommendations could have implications for Swindon, which is home to companies involved in defence, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.
Among them is the Uncrewed Systems Centre at Panattoni Park, which brings together organisations working on defence innovation and uncrewed technology.
The cross-party House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee published its report, Ready for action in 1,000 days? Forging a new partnership between Government and the defence industry, today (Wednesday 11th November).
It follows warnings from the Defence Secretary that Britain must be capable of fighting or deterring military action within the next 1,000 days.
The report comes as the Government works towards increasing defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.
However, the committee warned that additional funding alone would not be enough to ensure the Armed Forces are properly equipped to respond to emerging threats.
It wants the MoD to overhaul the way it purchases military equipment, allowing new technologies to be developed and introduced more quickly.
The committee also raised concerns about the barriers faced by small and medium-sized businesses seeking defence contracts.
It has called for major contractors to make greater use of smaller British suppliers, while ensuring businesses have clearer routes into the defence industry.
Ministers have also been urged to publish a multi-year programme outlining future military equipment requirements.
The committee believes this would give manufacturers and investors greater confidence to expand facilities, recruit workers and develop new technologies.
Greater emphasis should also be placed on British manufacturing when awarding defence contracts, according to the report.
The committee wants procurement decisions to support domestic supply chains and encourage the involvement of UK-based businesses wherever appropriate.
It highlighted the growing importance of drones and other uncrewed systems, particularly following their widespread use during the war in Ukraine.
The report warns that Britain must have sufficient manufacturing capacity to produce and adapt such equipment rapidly in the event of conflict.
It also calls for closer cooperation between the Government, local authorities and industry to ensure enough skilled workers are available to support the expansion of the defence sector.
Annual assessments of critical materials and components that cannot currently be sourced in Britain have also been recommended.
The committee further wants stronger measures to protect defence workers, factories and other facilities against threats from hostile actors.
Baroness Hayter, Chair of the Industry and Regulators Committee, said:
“Last year the Strategic Defence Review called for a new relationship between government and the defence industry to reflect the urgency of rebuilding the UK’s defence strength to meet the challenges and changing nature of warfare demonstrated so clearly by the war in Ukraine.
“Whilst we welcome recognition of the need for change within the Ministry of Defence, it must accelerate, embrace new technologies and enhance the role of SMEs, whilst ensuring the skilled workforce needed to deliver this change.
“With ongoing threats from Russia and other malign actors, the Government must show the necessary leadership and move at pace to achieve the Defence Secretary’s target of being ready for action within 1,000 days and use the 1 December Defence Investment Summit to provide certainty to business to drive the new partnership forward.”
The committee said stronger leadership from the Prime Minister would be needed to ensure the MoD, HM Treasury and other departments deliver the necessary changes.
It has called for annual reports to Parliament on progress against targets in the Defence Industrial Strategy, beginning by June 2027.
Ministers have also been asked to provide an update on the implementation of the committee’s wider recommendations by the end of 2027.
A formal Government response to the report is expected in early 2027.
The findings come ahead of the Defence Investment Summit on Tuesday 1st December, which the committee believes offers an opportunity for ministers to provide greater certainty to British defence businesses.
The committee warned that delays to procurement reform, manufacturing expansion and the adoption of new technologies could undermine Britain’s ability to respond to future military threats.
