Swindon is set to become home to Europe’s largest indoor drone testing facility after confirmation from the Ministry of Defence.
The new MOD Uncrewed Testing Centre will be based at the former Honda site and is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the town.
The facility will be four times larger than NATO’s small tactical drone testing centre in Latvia, making it the biggest indoor site of its kind in Europe. It marks one of the most significant defence investments in Swindon’s history and signals a major shift for the former car manufacturing plant.
The centre will provide testing, certification and development capabilities for drones and other uncrewed systems in a controlled indoor environment before deployment.
The announcement comes amid renewed debate about defence spending and the UK’s readiness for modern warfare. Yesterday, Secretary of Defence John Healey resigned following a dispute over the Government’s Defence Investment Plan.
Al Carns said:
“In Ukraine, drones are causing more casualties than artillery. That is the reality of modern warfare.
“We need to ensure the UK is ready for the next generation of conflict. This facility will provide world-class testing capability. Based in Swindon, the centre also anchors significant investment in a region that is rapidly establishing itself as Britain’s military drone manufacturing hub.”
The Ministry of Defence has already committed more than £4 billion towards autonomous systems and drone technologies, with further funding expected through the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Several drone manufacturers have established operations in and around Swindon in anticipation of increased Government investment.
The former Honda site is being lined up for a vast drone testing complex as part of ambitions to turn Swindon into a national centre for drone development and production.
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Will Stone, who worked with the MOD, Panattoni and Swindon Borough Council to help secure the project, described the move as a milestone. He said:
“Having the MOD Uncrewed Testing Centre in Swindon is fantastic news for the town.
“It has the potential to provide thousands of jobs for the people of Swindon whilst supporting national security.
“Getting to this point has been a journey, but I am proud to have worked alongside the MOD, especially Brigadier Stu Nasse, as well as the Panattoni team and Swindon Borough Council officers to get it across the line.
“Having the largest uncrewed testing facility in Europe based in Swindon will only increase investment in the town. Before being elected, I promised to bring back good employment to Swindon, and today’s announcement delivers on that promise.”
Brigadier Stu Nasse said Swindon’s growing cluster of drone and technology firms played a key role in securing the investment. He said:
“This location was chosen for all the right reasons, access to a technically proficient workforce, strong physical and digital infrastructure, and proximity to all facets of defence.
“But most of all, it was the emerging ecosystem of uncrewed systems companies rallying here, thanks to the tireless efforts of Will Stone MP.”
James Watson, Head of National Development at Panattoni, said:
“This is a huge day for the Panattoni team.
“Securing an MOD contract on our flagship Swindon project is a major step forward and highlights the growing diversity of partnerships Panattoni is building across the world as we expand into new markets.”
Stu Olden, Founder and CEO of SDO Associates, said the facility would accelerate innovation. He said:
“The MOD’s Uncrewed Testing Centre in Swindon marks a major step for Defence and industry, offering a world-class environment for companies to test and accelerate new technologies with direct support from national experts.”
Five years after Honda closed its factory, the vast site is now set to play a central role in the future of UK defence technology.
