Overview
- The Ministry of Defence formally opened the Uncrewed Systems Centre at Panattoni Park in Swindon on Friday, calling the 545,000 sq ft DroneTEX site Europe’s largest testing and development facility.
- Dan Jarvis led the opening in his first public role as Defence Secretary after John Healey’s resignation, and invited media were later withdrawn as the government postponed publication of the Defence Investment Plan.
- Industry attendees said firms were frustrated after being asked to bring equipment for a larger announcement that did not happen, with several sources describing the event as a ‘farce’ and noting that contract details remain unclear.
- The MOD and the Strategic Defence Review say the programme sits alongside a planned £2 billion increase in autonomy funding this parliament, taking total planned defence investment in autonomous systems to about £4 billion and reflecting £450 million spent on uncrewed systems since July 2024.
- The site is designed to anchor a domestic supply chain, support SMEs and create skilled jobs, and officials say its scale and rapid-testing focus could speed procurement and boost exports while the sector waits for the postponed Defence Investment Plan and clearer contracting timetables.