A defence contract worth up to £125 million has been awarded to Cook Defence Systems, securing 125 jobs in County Durham and strengthening the Army’s armoured vehicle fleet.
Announced on 18 August, the three-year agreement will see the firm supply spare track systems for all principal combat vehicles, including the British Army’s new Challenger 3 tanks.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the deal will “secure investment in advanced manufacturing techniques and support skilled jobs at Cook’s County Durham site.”
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard called the contract both a military and industrial gain. “This contract not only strengthens our Army’s warfighting capability, but helps sustain hundreds of skilled jobs in the North East,” he said. “It’s a clear example of the defence dividend where higher defence spending, spent with British firms, supports good, well-paid skilled jobs nationwide.”
Pollard tied the investment to lessons from Ukraine. “The war in Ukraine has taught us that a military is only as strong as the industry behind it. That’s why we’re investing more in our own forces and working with UK industry to scale up production, support our allies, and secure long-term national resilience.”
Cook Defence Systems is the UK’s sole designer and manufacturer of track systems for armoured fighting vehicles. Its managing director, William Cook, said: “This latest contract directly supports 125 jobs at Cook Defence Systems and underpins £5m of investment in new plant and machinery over the next twelve months. Our core relationship with the UK MOD is the foundation of our export success, with Cook Defence Systems currently supplying British allies in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.”
The company has also been central to supporting Ukraine, supplying spares for both British-donated vehicles and Soviet-era armour in service with the Ukrainian Army. The MoD highlighted this as evidence of UK industry’s role in ensuring Kyiv remains “in the strongest possible position on the battlefield.”
The announcement comes amid a surge in wider defence investment. This year, the UK has committed £4.5 billion of military support to Ukraine, including a £1.6 billion deal for over 5,000 air defence missiles, £350 million to expand drone supply from 10,000 to 100,000, and the delivery of 140,000 artillery munitions since January.
The Ministry of Defence said the contract also aligns with the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review and the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, intended to link national security with industrial growth.
Logistics have a huge significance and this is good news. However, it appears the future vehicles will be mainly wheeled as they were in the 50’s, apart from the Ajax family. I’ve no doubt this initiative will broaden as trends change and being located in the UK is a critical policy on so many levels.