A cross-party group of MPs is calling on the UK Government to support the creation of a joint UK-Ukraine defence technology production hub—aimed at accelerating arms deliveries to Ukraine while boosting British jobs and defence manufacturing.
Fred Thomas MP, Co-Chair of the Defence Technology All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), announced the initiative today, describing the proposal as “a strategic no-brainer.”
Under the plan, a portion of the UK’s £3 billion annual defence support for Ukraine would be redirected to fund defence manufacturing on British soil. The equipment produced would be shipped directly to Ukraine, with a small portion retained for the UK’s own Armed Forces.
“This would mean faster, higher-quality support to Ukraine. British jobs. And a stronger UK industrial base, better equipped to meet the challenges of the future,” said Mr Thomas, who represents Plymouth Moor View.
🚨UK-Ukraine Defence Tech Production Hub🚨
I’m convening efforts to build a joint UK-Ukraine production hub in Britain. Details below 👇🧵 pic.twitter.com/R8vlNnjkQD
— Fred Thomas MP (@FredThomasUK) April 14, 2025
The proposal envisions a public-private partnership model, leveraging private capital investment to stand up rapid production lines for urgently needed military equipment. Ukrainian participation in the hub, if supported by Kyiv, would ensure the UK production aligns with current battlefield needs and technological innovations.
In a statement released by the APPG, the group noted that the Government’s existing aid flows to Ukraine—currently over £3 billion annually—could be more effectively spent by manufacturing hardware in the UK and donating it in kind. Such an approach, they argue, would modernise the British defence industrial base while reinforcing support for Ukraine’s war effort.
“We propose some of that is spent on UK soil to manufacture hardware immediately donated in kind,” the APPG said. “This would be a public-private initiative, mobilising private capital investment, creating defence jobs, and modernising our force—while supporting the fight in Ukraine.”
The group says it has already been approached by multiple organisations independently exploring similar ideas and now aims to convene a roundtable to unite these efforts. Interested parties are being urged to contact the APPG at: [email protected].
The announcement follows growing calls across NATO countries to pair support for Ukraine with investments that strengthen domestic industrial capacity. By turning aid into dual-purpose production, advocates say the UK can meet its commitments abroad while building resilience at home.
The initiative remains in early stages, but the Defence Technology APPG hopes to present a formal case to Government later this year.
We could do far worse than kick this off. We are spending billions to give to Ukraine, and the more of that we can spend in this country encouraging UK manufacturers to produce and improve UK defence equipment that’s needed in Ukraine, the more goes back to the Treasury in economic growth. It makes the country more resillient to have the production, not to mention the possibility of exports. So yes, why not a central hub?
There might be a question in five years time, if the UK’s Ukraine financing taps are turned off, will these production lines produce more for the UK or will they be left to die of neglect? It’s tempting to say let the future take care of itself, but firms can’t fully ramp up unless they know there’s a future. We need to have the hub think about the long term a little bit too.
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Plenty of people proposed something similar and on a bigger scale in 2022, the government(s) have been painfully slow in helping Ukraine whilst increasing our defence manufacturing base. But I wouldn’t use the existing budget as that will mean cuts in aid elsewhere.
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Good idea, all we need is something to build.
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Paying for Ukraine means cut for our defence, you can dress it up any way you want the money comes from defence one way or the other. Governments deny it etc but its pretty much what really happens. Run our Army to ground, use up our ammo stocks to help Ukraine not many other options really.
Yes, but….
The way I see it is, that kit was ultimately purchased to destroy Russian equipment. It’s ok in my book if it isn’t Brits using it. However, we do need to re-arm concurrently.
When did we las fight Russia? when did Russia last fight us. We can not afford to replace it. We will not build ammo stocks back up. They will just be kept a secret so no one finds out how little we have. Apart from 14 Archer SPG’s nothing has been ordered to replace any bit of kit we gave Ukraine.
I agree help Ukraine but the fact is as country we are skint.
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While I agree we as a military are running low on most things and have limited depth, as BobA states, and as I have stated since the start of our contributions to Ukraine, the kit which is being used, the older kit and the stocks sent were built and designed around a conflict with Russia since the formation of NATO. I have no qualms about Brit or US kit killing Russians and destroying their material capability, as that’s what it was there for.
It’s a good way of helping Ukraine and helping us ,nowadays we have to pragmatical about things ,never mind the what ifs, buts or what happens, we all pull together, ITS AMAZING 👏 🤩
you been drinking or just a very happy person? We are skint. The Army is run down mess, we have depleted our ammo stocks. Where does the money to fix it come from?
Martin, Did you miss that Reeves allocated an extra £2.2bn in the Spring budget and Labour moved to deliver 2.5% by 2027, only 2 years away and then commit to deliver 3% in a second term by 2030? Money is coming from firstly raiding the overeas aid budget and then the welfare budget.
Spending as a % of GDP is a reasonable barometer, but the problem is when the economy goes south, as it is currently, you meet that goal without actually doing any additional spending.
Great idea to boost our defence industrial base.
Gets the “golden buzzer” from me.
Anything that puts the UK Defence Industry on more of a War Footing should be supported and fast tracked. Can we have less talking about Defence from UK Politicians and more Action!!! 809 Squadron FAA back operational!!! Fly Navy Happy Days!!!
It will also allow the Ukraine technical help and vica versa on development of new weapon systems and an area to work free from Russian eyes and harresment.
Win win
Rather than us just throw our money into the pot in Kiev to be spent goodness knows where much better for us to spend our money here on something that will grow the UK economy including its skills.
Well before that, we will need to get rid of this cluster f**k of a third rate, economically inept bunch of champagne Socialist Government wannabees. Only then, can we think of growing the UK economy in the future.
This seems to be a better way ,make or repair equipment here in the UK good for jobs and the economy .Has sadly when money is sent to the Ukraine how much goes missing ?
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The Ukrainians are at the forefront of actual modern battlefield conditions, fighting against the only enemy we would face in Europe => Russia. Quibbling about exactly how the defence pie is sliced is thus seems rather academic, and probably does not cost in the value of the Ukrainian Intellectual Property that comes our way. No British soldier is ever going to match the effectiveness of a Ukrainian fighting an existential defensive battle with Russia. The UK would benefit hugely from the suggested scheme…
Why has it taken 3 years for the pen pushers to get this idea up?
A joint UK-Ukraine defence technology production hub is a no brainer, swapping idea’s, producing and supplying whats needed
We have Ukrainians being trained in the UK, and just this week, one of the main drone fundraisers whom I help , like many others, raise funds for (FLK) based in Ukraine, posted a video of their drones being used in the UK, training soldiers
He, and other volunteers \ companies whose equipment is on the frontline, deserves to be supported because its what the soldiers.. WANT
The experimentation of the Ukrainians is a game-changer on the battlefield
Just like the Ukrainian companies, with their designs and input from soldiers.
It impacts production, and they create what they need for each unit’s specification
Why can’t we do the same? and buy what works
If, as a commander of a unit, you need a pile of Chugaister poncho raincoats (anti-thermal) then you need a fast track system to supply your unit
How come the Ukrainians can do this?
We are just so slow!
Lets get this equipment designed, delivered for both our armie’s💯
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