To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of potential trading opportunities in the defence sector with non-European countries after Brexit.
Answered on
12 February 2019
The Department for International Trade’s Defence and Security Organisation (DIT DSO) regularly pursues export and investment opportunities in the defence sector with non-European countries as part of its role helping the UK defence and security industries to export and will continue to do so after Brexit.
On a rolling 10-year basis, the UK remains the second largest global defence exporter. In 2017, the UK won defence orders worth £9 billion. The UK share of the global defence export market was estimated at 12% in 2017.
Recent success in defence contracts won, such as Australia’s selection of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship for its Future Frigates programme, highlight the UK’s world-leading ability to deliver cutting edge capability whilst supporting thousands of jobs and contributing to national prosperity.
The UK will continue to be one of the most successful defence and security exporting countries backed by a government that continues to support defence and security exports but rightly has one of the most robust export licensing regimes. In 2019 the UK will again host Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) to support this success.