To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure compatibility between the purchase of US equipment for UK armed service and job creation within the defence industry through the levelling up agenda.
Answered on
18 January 2021
The UK's involvement in international bilateral and multilateral partnership and equipment programmes, including with the US, offers significant opportunities for UK companies. This can be seen in the UK's role in the F-35 supply chain, with British companies building approximately 15% by value of all F-35s. The Ministry of Defence works closely with US and international suppliers to highlight opportunities for the UK Defence Industry, for example this includes supply events with major US primes, the most recent of which attracted 800 attendees from across all nations of the UK who were briefed on future opportunities.
As part of the cross-Government review of the UK's defence and security sectors (DSIS), we will identify how to enhance our strategic approach to ensure we continue to maintain competitive, innovative and world-class defence and security industries that drive investment and prosperity across the Union and underpin national security now and in the future.