Tag: Ministry of Defence

Half a a billion investment to upgrade RAF Typhoons and secure 1,500 jobs

DEFENCE SECRETARY VISITS LEONARDO at CREWE TOLL

  • More than half a billion in funding committed this week to upgrade Britain’s Typhoons – including advanced radar upgrades – securing over 1,500 UK jobs.
  • Defence Secretary John Healey visits Leonardo UK in Edinburgh, where hundreds of millions will be invested in cutting-edge radars manufactured in Scotland.
  • Investment delivers on Strategic Defence Review commitment to continue upgrading Typhoon as the backbone of Britain’s air defence.

More than 1,500 skilled jobs across the UK will be sustained into the next decade as the government commits over half a billion pounds this week to strengthen and upgrade the RAF’s Typhoon fighter jet fleet, showing how defence is an engine for growth.

Defence Secretary John Healey will visit Leonardo UK’s Edinburgh site to confirm the award of a £453 million contract to UK industry for the manufacture of state-of-the-art Typhoon radar systems, and which will secure hundreds of highly skilled jobs in Scotland over the next decade and up to 1,300 jobs across the UK.  

Under the new contract, BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt will equip Royal Air Force Typhoons with the new radar systems over the coming years. In addition to the 300 skilled roles in Edinburgh, the work secures 120 jobs in Lancashire and more than 100 in Luton. The full Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across 330 UK companies.

The radar investment follows a £205 million contract announced earlier this week for the long-term provision of specialist Typhoon engineering support by QinetiQ (sustaining up to 250 UK jobs) to help upgrade the Typhoon weapon system and keep the aircraft safe and airworthy for years to come.

This week’s combined investment of over £650 million demonstrates how defence is as an engine for growth, creating good jobs and growing businesses while strengthening national security. Apprentices and workers in Scotland will benefit from the contract, with more than half of Leonardo UK’s almost 3,000 Edinburgh employees working in highly skilled professions, such as hardware, software, electronics and systems engineering.

The UK is committed to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:  “Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and NATO air defence, operated across Europe by the Royal Air Force and our allies to protect our skies and security.

As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this cutting-edge radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come.

“In Edinburgh and across the UK, we’re backing more than 20,000 skilled workers on the Typhoon programme who ensure our RAF remains ready to protect Britain. Our government has backed their high-skilled work with more than £650 million of investment this week alone, securing British jobs and making defence an engine for growth in Scotland and beyond.

“This massive workforce will be sustained for years following the biggest fighter jet exports deal in a generation, worth £8 billion which we secured with Türkiye in October.”

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “This £453 million contract award to build state-of-the-art radar systems for Typhoon fighter jets shows just how vital Scottish expertise is to the UK’s national security and why Scotland is globally recognised as a centre of defence excellence.

“This upgrade to the RAF fleet – sustaining 300 jobs at Leonardo in Edinburgh and many more in the supply chain – is the latest in an impressive line of defence dividend wins for Scotland.

“The UK Government is transforming our defence sector into an even more powerful engine for growth because when we back our service personnel and Scottish industry, we keep ourselves and our allies secure whilst delivering skilled jobs and growth for communities and workers.”

The investment will deliver an additional 40 advanced European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radars for RAF Typhoons, including 38 new systems and modifications to two test systems, ensuring radars will be fitted to 40 aircraft. These radars will simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground. 

The ECRS Mk2 radar will ensure the RAF maintains its operational advantage in contested environments. It provides high-powered jamming capability whilst engaging targets beyond the reach of threats.

Typhoon remains the backbone of UK combat air capability and will continue protecting British skies until at least the 2040s. Continuing to upgrade Typhoons was a commitment in the Strategic Defence Review, forming part of the next-generation Royal Air Force.

The announcement supports the government’s Plan for Change by investing in working people through high-value employment whilst strengthening national security.

Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK, Leonardo, said: “ECRS Mk2 isn’t just an exceptional radar – it’s equipped with advanced electronic surveillance and electronic attack capabilities which will make RAF’s Typhoons more potent against their adversaries, adapting to new and unpredictable threats.

“This contract secures 300 highly skilled jobs at Leonardo’s Edinburgh site, and 100 at our Luton site. As well as supporting over 71 UK-based suppliers, we hope ECRS Mk2 will see wider adoption by other Typhoon export users given its advanced capabilities against current and future threats.”

Richard Hamilton, BAE Systems Managing Director – Europe & International said: “The Typhoon programme is a fundamental pillar of the UK’s national defence and security.

“Operating at the heart of NATO operations, Typhoon aircraft provide air policing along Europe’s eastern flank. The continued investment in Typhoon capability is crucial and ensures we’re able to maximise the UK’s investment in the aircraft and accelerate combat air technologies critical for defence capabilities.”

Homes fit for heroes: 1,000 military homes upgraded in time for Christmas

Military families across the UK will celebrate Christmas in homes fit for heroes as improvements to fix 1,000 of the worst forces houses have completed ahead of schedule

  • Completion of Consumer Charter pledge to transform 1,000 worst homes ahead of schedule
  • Hundreds more military properties to be upgraded by the spring.
  • The major upgrades show early delivery of the Defence Housing Strategy – a generational renewal of military homes.

Military families across the UK will celebrate Christmas in homes fit for heroes as improvements to fix 1,000 of the worst forces houses have completed ahead of schedule.

The ambitious programme of works to urgently fix 1,000 military homes has also now been extended, with a further 250 military properties to receive priority upgrades over the coming months – a 25% increase on the target set out by Defence Secretary John Healey when launching the Consumer Charter only eight months ago.

The programme of housing improvements, known as Raising the Minimum Standards, has seen significant works take place at service family homes across the UK, with upgrades made to almost 700 properties in England, over 150 properties in Northern Ireland, over 100 in Wales and over 50 in Scotland.

Homes across the country have received a complete makeover including new flooring and other improvements such as replacing unreliable boilers and heating systems, repairing hundreds of leaky roofs and installing new bathrooms, kitchens, windows and doors.

These are the first steps of delivery under the MOD’s mission to transform military family housing, with £9 billion of investment allocated for a generational renewal of defence housing over the next ten years.

The Defence Housing Strategy will see the modernisation, refurbishing or rebuilding of more than 40,000 service family homes and has been enabled by the landmark deal made just 12 months ago to bring 36,000 military homes back into public ownership.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: “Our Armed Forces and their families sacrifice so much for our country, the least they deserve are safe and decent homes. The work we’ve done to upgrade the 1,000 worst homes means that more families can now enjoy Christmas together in homes that are fit for heroes.

“This is just the start of our ambitious work to upgrade tens of thousands of homes across the country, made possible by our landmark deal to bring 36,000 homes back into public ownership and backed by £9 billion investment.

“We are ending the decades of neglect and giving our dedicated Armed Forces families the homes they deserve.”

Cpl Jack Crean, his partner Nina and their one-year-old son Charlie have just moved into one of the newly refurbished homes at Bassingbourn Barracks in Cambridgeshire.

Cpl Crean said: We are really pleased to be in our new home for Christmas. Everyone is a lot happier here, especially Charlie.

“It’s nice to live in an up-to-date house, it works so much better for the whole family and if I was to go away, I know that my family is in a clean, modern house.”

David Brewer, Chief Operating Officer for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation said: “I am very proud of the improvements our teams have made to a 1,000 of our worst homes.

“This is just the start of a generational renewal which will see 9 out of 10 homes improved. We are already seeing the results of the changes we are making through our charter commitments and are determined to do even more to improve the homes and deliver the experience our armed forces deserve.”

The refurbishment of the 1,000 worst homes was just one the Consumer Charter commitments made by the Secretary of State to improve the experience of service families.

All the Charter Commitments made in April 2025 are on course to be achieved by the end of this year, including the implementation of robust standards, ensuring service families can be confident they are moving into clean and functional homes, modernised policies making it easier to personalise homes, and the introduction of a named Housing Officer for every family to provide greater support.

These improvements are already being reflected in the results of monthly surveys of Service personnel, which show a clear upward trajectory in overall levels of satisfaction.

Defence Housing Strategy: A £9bn ‘generational renewal’ for forces family housing 

100,000 new homes on MOD land to drive growth

The MOD is announcing its new Defence Housing Strategy, with £9bn to improve over 40,000 military homes.

  • New government strategy to deliver ‘generational renewal’ to fix UK military housing and get Britain building, backed by £9bn investment.
  • Biggest upgrade to Armed Forces housing in over half a century with more than 40,000 military homes to be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt – delivering on manifesto pledge to strengthen support for the Armed Forces community who sacrifice so much for our country.
  • Strategy unlocks one of Britain’s most ambitious housebuilding programmes in decades, with potential to deliver over 100,000 new homes for civilian and military families on surplus Defence land.

Armed Forces personnel and their families will benefit from the most significant transformation of UK military housing in more than 50 years, with more than 40,000 service family homes to be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt.

The Defence Housing Strategy is a major step forward in delivering the government’s pledge to provide high-quality housing for the Armed Forces community.

This initiative forms part of a wider programme to improve service family accommodation, prioritise veterans in housing need, and uphold the Armed Forces Covenant in full. By investing in modern, safe, and secure homes, the government is delivering on its promise to support those who have given so much for our nation.

The £9 billion programme, part of a new Defence Housing Strategy to be published by the Government on Monday, will also turbocharge the use of surplus defence land as part of the Government’s promise to get Britain building the housing we need to boost growth in every corner of the country. 

Defence Secretary John Healey has identified the long-term opportunity to build over 100,000 new homes on surplus MoD land – homes for both civilian and military families – driving economic growth and supporting thousands of jobs. 

The upcoming Strategy is based on feedback from thousands of service families and led by an expert, independent review team. With a clear and costed plan for the future, the Strategy will mark a decisive break from the past – following years of chronic underinvestment which drove down Armed Forces morale and retention of military personnel. 

A 10-year ‘generational renewal’ of service family homes will see tens of thousands of Armed Forces houses modernised or upgraded, with around 14,000 receiving substantial refurbishment or replacement, ensuring homes fit for our forces and their families.  

Defence Secretary will announce total investment of £9 billion over the next decade to deliver the Strategy, funded by the Government’s record uplift in defence spending. This builds on the additional £1.5bn in this Parliament, set out at the Strategic Defence Review, to rapidly address the poor state of military housing.  

The renewal is made possible following the government’s landmark Annington Homes deal earlier this year, which brought 36,000 properties back into public ownership, saving the taxpayer £600,000 per day – savings which are now being reinvested in fixing forces housing and getting Britain building on defence land. 

The Strategy shows that the Government is on the side of our forces and their families and committed to making defence an engine for growth.  

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our Armed Forces families make extraordinary sacrifices for our country, and they deserve homes that truly feel like home.

“This record investment will deliver modern, safe and comfortable housing for tens of thousands of service families.

“This is a plan for generational renewal that puts forces first, giving those who serve, and those who support them, the security and respect they deserve.”

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Every day, our British forces personnel – and their families – help to keep us all safe. In this new era of threat, we rely on them more every day. The least they deserve is a decent home. 

“Our new Defence Housing Strategy will be the biggest renewal of Armed Forces housing in more than 50 years. This is a new chapter: a decisive break from decades of underinvestment, with a building programme to back Britain’s military families and drive economic growth across the country.

“We are a government that is on the side of our forces and their families.  With this historic £9bn investment, we will deliver the modern, quality homes that our Forces and their loved ones deserve.”

Thousands of military homes will receive a complete makeover – new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems – to ensure military families have the homes that they deserve.   

As part of efforts to unlock the wider delivery of 100,000 homes on surplus defence land, the Strategy will put forward plans for a dedicated Defence Development Fund – driving a self-sustaining cycle of investment by releasing surplus land for development, with proceeds reinvested into future projects.  

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Over the past 16 months, we’ve ripped up regulations and slashed red tape to get Britain building the housing this country desperately needs because when Britain builds, Britain grows.

“Our plans to renew military housing and help deliver 100,000 new homes is supporting our security and armed forces, driving economic growth and building an economy that works for, and rewards, working people.”

The Defence Housing Strategy has been developed by an independent review team chaired by former Member of Parliament and housing expert Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE. The team provided deep knowledge of the experience of Armed Forces families, housebuilding, property management and the housing industry. The work included a detailed survey of more than 6,000 service families. 

Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy review team said: “Our pride in our armed forces must include pride in our military homes. For too long service personnel and their families have had to put up with substandard housing.

“This strategy is informed by a team of housing experts and shaped by the views of thousands of Service families, some of whose homes I have visited to see first-hand the issues that they face.

“Through this new strategy, we are setting out an ambitious programme of renewal. For too long, military housing has been in a terrible state, this strategy seeks to change that by fixing Defence family homes and delivering for the nation.”

Scottish soldiers buried in France on the 110th anniversary of their deaths

Relatives of two World War 1 Scottish soldiers gathered in France yesterday to witness their burial with full military honours, alongside six other soldiers whose identities remain unknown

Lieutenant (Lt) James Grant Allan, 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and Lance Corporal (LCpl) Gordon McPherson, 7th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, were laid to rest alongside their comrades exactly 110 years after they were killed in action in France.

The service was supported by serving soldiers from 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Lt Allan left Edinburgh University to join the Gordon Highlanders in 1914, when war was declared. He joined at the same time as his brother Nimmo, and they both went to fight in France.

He was killed on 25 September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos. A friend and fellow officer wrote “Jim’s men thought the world of him” and continued “I have gained from his friendship…He may have left this world but only to go to a freer one…I have been strengthened by the thought of him, or his presence”.

He was identified after artefacts found with the casualties suggested one was an officer, which narrowed their search. The families of the battalion’s 14 missing officers were traced and tested, with Lt Allan’s family proving a positive match.

LCpl McPherson was working as a tobacconist when he joined the Cameron Highlanders in November 1914 alongside his two brothers and their father.

He too was killed on 25 September 1915, a fellow soldier of his machine-gun section, described him as “the life and soul of the section. His imitations of Charles Chaplin were enjoyed very much by his comrades. His favourite song, ‘Trumpeter, what are you sounding now!’, grew to be the most popular song in the section…It was Gordon’s song. We can’t sing it now.”

LCpl McPherson was identified by a small set of buttons from the Newcastle Corporation Tramway that he had in his pocket at the time of his death. After studying the 1911 census, the War Detectives discovered that LCpl McPherson’s father worked for the Tramway so a DNA test was sent to the next of kin, which came back positive.

All the soldiers buried yesterday were discovered during construction work for a new hospital on the outskirts of Lens.

The service was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’.

Nicola Nash, MOD War Detective said: “Lt Allan and LCpl McPherson have both been buried today 110 years after they were killed.

“With half a million British servicemen still missing from the First World War, every identity we make is a huge achievement. It has been a real privilege to give closure to their families and lay these heros to rest with honour.”

Nicholas Allan, great-nephew Lt James Allan, said: “I feel very moved and honoured by the work of the MOD that it is honouring this great-uncle of mine who I barely knew existed.

“I feel a profound sense that something has been completed. It speaks to me of all those whose bodies were never found, I feel we’re completing something for them too.

Alistair McPherson, great-nephew of LCpl Gordan McPherson, said: “It’s been emotional in a good way.

“We have known Gordon all our lives because of the letters we have got, and it’s just wonderful to have found him. He’s no longer lost.”

Jeremy Prince, CWGC France Area Director, said: “We are deeply honoured by the reburial of eight Scottish soldiers, six of whom remain unknown, at the CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension.

“This cemetery, inaugurated just one year ago by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, was established to receive the remains of soldiers recently discovered (and those who may be found in the future) during ongoing work and research in the region.

“The ceremony also coincides with the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Loos – a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during the First World War. We are proud to offer these soldiers a final resting place worthy of their courage and service. We will remember them.”

UK fighter jets begin NATO air defence missions to bolster European security

Royal Air Force Typhoon patrolled the skies over Poland as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission

Royal Air Force Typhoons have flown their first NATO air defence sortie over Poland as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry, strengthening the Alliance’s defences on its eastern flank following a reckless Russian drone incursion.

Two British fighter jets took off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night, supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft, to patrol Polish skies and deter and defend against aerial threats from Russia, including drones. They returned safely to the UK early Saturday morning.

This first operational mission follows the reckless and dangerous incursion by Russian drones into Polish sovereign airspace – the most significant violation of NATO airspace by President Putin to date since his illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and further breaches of NATO airspace by Russian jets and a drone over the past week.

On Monday, the Defence Secretary visited RAF Brize Norton, home of the Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, to announce the UK’s contribution. He met with some of the RAF personnel who are among more than 400 personnel set to directly support these missions.  

The UK operation comes as the UK marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain this weekend, with the UK and Poland sharing a poignant history. Just as during the Battle of Britain, when Polish pilots came to the aid of the UK forming one of the largest and most successful foreign contingents in the RAF, the UK is now standing side by side with the UK’s Polish allies in the face of Russian aggression.

The UK commitment follows last week’s North Atlantic Council meeting where Allies expressed full solidarity with Poland after it requested consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: “RAF Typhoons have now flown their first air defence mission over Poland, sending a clear signal: NATO airspace will be defended.

“I’m proud of the outstanding British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our Allies from reckless Russian aggression.

“This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security – making us secure at home and strong abroad.”

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, said: “Our partnership with NATO has never been stronger. This sortie marks the RAF’s first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UK’s steadfast commitment to NATO and its allies.

“RAF Typhoons, supported by Voyager air-air refuelling aircraft, joined allies along the eastern flank to bolster NATO’s defence and deterrence.

“We remain agile, integrated, and ready to project airpower at range.”

This new era of threat – exemplified by Russia’s intensifying airspace violations – requires a new era for Defence, and the government is delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027. The UK’s national security , the foundation of the government’s Plan for Change, starts with an unwavering commitment to NATO and Euro-Atlantic security.

The UK’s commitment to NATO is unshakeable. British Armed Forces continue to play a leading role in the Alliance, from the Army’s continuing presence in Estonia as part of NATO’s Forward Land Forces, to the RAF’s enduring air policing missions in Europe.

Over the past 18 months, the RAF has deployed Typhoons to both Poland and Romania to protect NATO airspace.

Typhoons are equipped with advanced sensors and infrared-guided ASRAAM missiles (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles), making them ideally suited to detecting, monitoring and intercepting potential aerial threats.

‘Defence dividend’ delivers thousands of UK jobs following exceptional foreign investment

  • Unprecedented UK defence sector growth with more than £1.4 billion in foreign direct investment committed in just 12 months.
  • More than 1,700 new jobs being created across the UK, delivering on this Government’s Plan for Change.
  • Ministers saw British innovation and investment in action with visits to Greenford and Farringdon.

More than 1,700 new jobs are being created as the UK’s defence sector drives unprecedented growth across the country, following at least £1.4 billion foreign direct investment being announced since July 2024. 

This success reflects the Government’s commitment to making defence an engine for economic growth across the UK. The increase in annual foreign direct investment from international companies demonstrates the confidence that companies feel to invest in the UK, alongside the Government’s historic uplift in defence spending, providing a significant boost to the UK economy and showing more countries are choosing to invest in facilities in Britain.  

The increased investment is supporting the UK’s defence industrial base, with thousands of new jobs created and supported across the country, including manufacturing, engineering, and business service roles. Recent investments include an expanded drone manufacturing facility in Hampshire, shipbuilding secured in Belfast, and the investment in artillery systems manufacture in Telford.

The soon to be published Defence Industrial Strategy will set out how the UK will further strengthen its defence industrial base and supply chains, enhance sovereign capabilities, and position Britain as a global leader in defence technology whilst creating high-skilled jobs and driving economic growth across the country. 

Defence Secretary John Healey MP, said: “This record new investment is a confirmed vote of confidence in Britain.  

“In a new era for defence, I am backing British industry, British innovators and British jobs.   

“A strong defence industrial base helps keep Britain safe and makes defence an engine for growth.”

Ministers showcased this momentum yesterday with visits highlighting new British defence innovation sites. 

The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, opened Ultra Maritime’s new £20 million manufacturing facility in Greenford, London, which will employ 100 staff including 35 new manufacturing and testing roles focused on producing cutting-edge sonobuoys for anti-submarine warfare systems. 

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, said: “Ultra Maritime’s innovative work supports the Royal Navy to help keep the UK safe, whilst backing dozens of skilled manufacturing jobs.  

“By deepening their investment in state-of-the-art facilities, it is another demonstration of the confidence defence firms have in growing their companies in the UK.”

The Defence Industrial Strategy will ensure we continue to attract world-class companies to the UK, creating high-skilled jobs and cementing Britain’s position as a global defence technology leader.

The Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP, opened Arondite’s new Farringdon office, celebrating a British defence-tech company building AI software to connect autonomous systems. Veteran-founded Arondite announced a £100 million investment in advanced R&D, expanding its UK footprint and creating 100 new high-skilled jobs.  

Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP, said: “Arondite’s expansion represents exactly the kind of British innovation and entrepreneurship that exemplifies Defence as an engine for growth – combining cutting-edge AI technology with job creation and sovereign capability development.  

“As outlined in the SDR, we are creating a new partnership with business and making it easier for SMEs to do business with Defence. Through our Defence Industrial Strategy, we’re backing brilliant British companies like veteran-founded Arondite to scale up, create careers, and keep our nation secure in an increasingly complex world.”

These developments build on the Government’s delivery of the Strategic Defence Review, which provided the strategic framework for strengthening Britain’s defence capabilities to meet the new era of threat, whilst harnessing the Prime Minister’s historic defence investment to create jobs and opportunity in communities nationwide.

British training of Ukrainian troops extended through 2026

Extension supports UK’s objective of supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russian attack, while developing its Armed Forces to deter Putin in future

UK MARKS UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

Ukrainian soldiers will receive a further boost from the British military’s expert training, as the Government announces the extension of the UK’s world-leading training programme on Ukrainian Independence Day.

The UK is stepping up and evolving its training support to ensure Ukraine’s Armed Forces are in the strongest possible position as they resist ongoing Russian attacks, and to deter any further Russian aggression under a future peace deal by supporting the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces. Supporting Ukraine’s defence supports the UK’s own national security and helps counter the economic disruption caused by Putin’s illegal invasion.

Training support and military equipment from the UK has helped give Ukraine a crucial boost on the frontline, with Russia continuing to lose far more vehicles and equipment to damage or destruction than Ukraine.

The extension of Operation INTERFLEX to at least the end of 2026 was announced by the Defence Secretary amid Ukrainian celebrations today, marking 34 years since declaring independence from the Soviet Union.

More than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained on British soil so far, with the UK leading 13 other nations providing support to the INTERFLEX programme as one of the biggest schemes of its kind in the world.

The UK is also adapting INTERFLEX training to best suit Ukraine’s evolving military requirements, with a gradual shift from prioritising shorter courses centred on basic combat skills training, to a greater focus on leadership and instructor training.

Two additional courses are now being delivered alongside the basic infantry course. One teaches soldiers how to be in command at a platoon and section leader level and the other is an instructor training course.

Working closely with Ukraine means the UK Armed Forces can learn valuable insights and techniques from the battlefield, helping to improve skills and tactics. Support for Ukraine has also seen closer industrial collaboration, benefiting British businesses and supporting the government’s Plan for Change.

The news comes as events take place across the UK today to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day and highlight the historic relationship that Britain and Ukraine have built. Nearly 2,000 Ukrainian recruits, British military personnel, and other attendees are set to celebrate at one of the INTERFLEX training sites in England. 

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “The UK is united for Ukraine. We will continue to step up our support alongside allies, so that Ukraine can defend today and deter tomorrow.

“In the face of ongoing Russian attacks, we must put Ukraine’s Armed Forces in the strongest possible position. And as the push for peace continues, we must make the Ukrainians into the strongest possible deterrent to secure that future peace.

“On this special day for the freedom and democracy of the Ukrainian people, we are ramping up and evolving our world-leading training support that has given more than 50,000 Ukrainians vital combat skills.

“This matters to Ukraine and it matters to Britain. A secure Ukraine is a secure Europe. From learning lessons from the battlefield to strengthen our own Armed Forces, to deepening our military industrial collaboration supporting jobs across the nation, Britain and Ukraine are growing closer than ever before.”

INTERFLEX training began as a 5-week course to provide basic combat training to recruits, but following continued feedback and dialogue with Ukraine’s Armed Forces, has since become a 7-week course and offers alternative courses specifically designed to boost leadership and command skills for personnel, with new courses introduced, tailored according to seniority of trainees.

Training a new generation of Ukrainian instructors is one of the most effective methods to strengthen Ukraine’s security both now and in the long-term, increasing skills and capacity to expand its own training programmes. It will help Ukraine continue to regenerate its military capabilities, which would act as the strongest deterrent against further attacks from Putin under any peace deal.

New survey results of Ukrainian recruits who have completed training under Operation INTERFLEX from January to August 2025 revealed that 83% of those on leadership courses said they felt more able to make their troops under their command survivable at the end of their leadership training. The data also revealed that 93% of leadership trainees felt more confident they can make troops under their command more lethal at the end of their training.

Recent open-source reporting indicates that support from the UK and other nations has helped Ukraine achieve remarkable results on the battlefield, with more than 4,000 Russian battle tanks having been reported destroyed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, compared with around 1,250 in Ukraine’s case. Reporting suggests that Russia has lost more than double the number of armoured vehicles compared to Ukraine.

Artem, a Ukrainian soldier currently training on Operation INTERFLEX’s Platoon and Company Sergeants Course said: “I am very grateful to the UK for supporting the people of Ukraine in their struggle for independence and identity as a nation.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to take such courses, for the high level of professionalism of the instructors, their dedication to their work, and for their ability to organise both group training and find an individual approach for each of us.

“Instructors ensure that classes are conducted in conditions as close to real-life as possible, whether it be in trenches, in a forested area, or in an urban area.

I learned how important it is to be prepared for coordinated actions in conditions of increased danger, how to properly coordinate personnel during defence, and planning offensive actions. I learnt how to survive in conditions of minimal support and improve first aid skills.”

Work on a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia has deepened in recent weeks under US leadership, with the Prime Minister flying out to Washington last week to meet with President Trump and President Zelenskyy alongside other European leaders. The Chief of the Defence Staff also held meetings on the Coalition of the Willing with other NATO chiefs.

The Coalition of the Willing – led by the UK and France – has developed plans for a multinational military force that could be deployed to Ukraine to provide support in the event of a peace deal. Several planning meetings in recent months have involved more than 200 military planners and input from around 30 countries.

The UK remains fully committed to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort, which is why £4.5bn is being spent on military support to Ukraine this year, the largest amount provided to date.

In March, the Prime Minister announced a historic £1.6 billion deal to provide more than five thousand air defence missiles for Ukraine – creating 200 new jobs and supporting a further 700.

The UK will also invest a record £350m this year to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025.

@ScotGovFM First Minister @JohnSwinney and Social Justice Secretary @S_A_Somerville attended a ceremony at Edinburgh’s City Chambers to mark Ukrainian Independence Day.

@ScotGov will continue to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while assisting Ukrainian communities in Scotland.

PICTURES: Basya Volodarskaya

Radioactive Leaks: End the Secrecy

Chair of Scottish CND has written to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) about radiological contamination incidents from Coulport.

Scottish CND asked for assurances that SEPA will not keep future similar incidents secret and have requested a meeting with SEPA officials.

Scotland ‘at the heart of defence investment’

Small and medium businesses get a seat at the table

The contribution of Scottish SMEs to the UK’s national security was recognised during a roundtable held on Thursday at Edinburgh’s Queen Elizabeth House, chaired by Defence Minister Lord Coaker following his visit to the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo.

  • Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) take part in Government roundtable in Edinburgh, discussing how defence can boost growth in Scotland. 
  • Chaired by UK Defence Minister Lord Coaker, the roundtable follows the MoD’s commitment to spend £7.5 billion with SMEs by 2028. 
  • Scotland is at the heart of UK’s defence industry, keeping the UK safe at home and strong abroad, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.  

The Minister met with representatives from eight companies, from Stirling to Forfar, to discuss their innovative work that helps keeps the country safe.  

Ahead of the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, the government has announced the intent to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion over the next three years, reversing the fall that was recorded before last year’s election.

This government’s commitment to SMEs recognises the vital role they play at all levels within the defence supply-chain – both directly and indirectly –with a total of £7.5 billion to be spent with SMEs by 2028.

Defence Minister Lord Coaker said: “It was fantastic to meet many innovative Scottish companies who play a crucial role in strengthening our national security, boosting growth and providing jobs in their local communities.  

“Businesses in Scotland will be among those who can benefit from the £2.5 billion increase in SME spending that we will deliver, helping drive defence as an engine for economic growth – as we deliver on our Plan for Change.

“As well as being home to thousands of military personnel and major bases, defence is a key driver for renewal in Scotland, with latest statistics showing that the MOD spends more than £2 billion a year with the defence sector in Scotland, supporting nearly 12,000 industry jobs.”

Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray said: “We are proud of Scotland’s defence sector and we will always stand up for the industry and workforce.

“The UK Government’s historic uplift in defence spending will see a huge defence dividend for Scotland which will help ensure Britain’s security, deter our adversaries and drive economic growth for years to come as part of our Plan for Change.

“Through events such as today’s roundtable we are working closely with industry and supply chains to maximise Scotland’s defence dividend. Our new Brand Scotland campaign will seek to build on that success and help the sector export its world class technology around the world.”

Programmes including the multi-billion pound redevelopment programme for His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde will also create skilled jobs – including for small and medium size firms – to boost the economy while addressing the critical skills gaps facing the country.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the private sector, including small and medium businesses, are key to unlocking defence innovation, giving the UK and its allies the fighting edge.

The upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will provide further detail into future collaboration between Government and industry across the UK. 

UK fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft near NATO’s eastern flank

UK fighter jets have intercepted two Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace

UK fighter jets intercepted two Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace as part of the UK’s contribution to NATO’s enhanced Air Policing in the region, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

Two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Malbork Air Base in Poland on Tuesday (April 15) to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M “Coot-A” intelligence aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

Whilst on Thursday (17 April) another two Typhoons scrambled from the base, to intercept an unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad air space and close to NATO airspace.

The intercepts mark the RAF’s first scramble as part of Operation CHESSMAN and come just weeks after the aircraft arrived in eastern Poland to begin their deployment alongside Sweden in defence of NATO’s Eastern Flank.

It follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty.   

Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority and foundation of its Plan for Change. The work of the Royal Air Force is critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting the delivery of the Government’s five missions.

Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said: “The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our Allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our Plan for Change.

“This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with NATO’s newest member Sweden and to defend the Alliance’s airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad.”

The UK’s deployment of six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing is the UK’s latest contribution to NATO’s air policing efforts, following successful operations in Romania and Iceland last year.

It also represents a landmark in NATO integration with RAF jets from RAF Lossiemouth operating alongside Swedish Gripens – the first time Sweden has contributed fighter aircraft to another Ally’s air policing since joining NATO in 2024.

The intercepts come after the Defence Secretary’s visit to NATO last week where he reaffirmed the UK’s unshakeable commitment to the alliance and co-led a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in which more than 50 nations pledged a total of £21 billion of support to Ukraine.

The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across all regions of the UK every year, which is defending our security whilst creating jobs back home.  

The RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert forces, based at RAF Coningsby, Lossiemouth, and Brize Norton, remain ready to protect UK airspace around the clock, while deployed operations like Op CHESSMAN ensure that British airpower is defending the Alliance wherever it is most needed.