Twenty-two companies, including British small and medium-sized enterprises, are to receive contracts worth up to £300,000 each to carry out feasibility studies on possible sites for new UK factories producing the energetic materials used in munitions, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

The contracts will benefit businesses in England, Scotland and Wales. Energetic materials are the explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics that form essential components of weapons ranging from small arms, artillery and mortars to countermeasures, bombs and missiles.

The studies will focus on which sites could be used to build at least six new munitions factories, part of what the government describes as its work to rebuild the nation’s homegrown ammunition and energetics manufacturing capability. The Ministry of Defence framed the effort as re-establishing a sovereign, “always on” pipeline for munitions supply, citing the war in Ukraine as evidence of the importance of fast resupply of munitions by industry.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:

“This Government is building the munitions and energetics factories of the future, restoring Britain’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities after decades of decline and helping us to re-industrialise. By investing across England, Scotland and Wales, we are strengthening our warfighting readiness and security of supply, while creating at least 1,000 high-skilled jobs in the future in communities that have long been the backbone of British industry and will be again.”

Each selected company will receive up to £300,000 to develop detailed proposals for manufacturing energetic materials and for the sites at which production could be based. The companies are expected to return their findings by the end of September 2026, with construction of the new factories planned to begin by the end of the year.

On completion of the feasibility studies, the strongest proposals will be offered Front End Engineering Design (FEED) contracts worth up to £5 million each to develop engineering designs for at least six new munitions and energetics factories.

In November 2025 the government announced that at least 13 potential sites had been identified across the UK for the manufacture of munitions and explosives, including locations in Monmouthshire, Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway, North Ayrshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Pembrokeshire and Falkirk.

The studies follow £11.1 billion allocated through the Defence Investment Plan for munitions and weapons, which the Ministry of Defence says will increase UK stockpiles and ensure the Armed Forces have what it calls the right “high-low” mix of capabilities to defeat the full range of targets.

Commodore Caroline Dix MBE, Deputy Director Lethality and Protect in the National Armaments Director Group (Materiel), said:

“National Armaments (Materiel) is pleased to announce the award of feasibility study contracts to a diverse cohort of companies, from innovative SMEs to major defence primes and major chemical industry partners. This is a significant step towards rebuilding the UK’s sovereign energetics industry.

“The studies will identify how we can grow UK production of the explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics that underpin military capability, driving investment, innovation and skilled jobs across the country.

“Above all, it will help ensure the Armed Forces have a secure and resilient supply of the munitions they need to fight and win.”