The UK government has granted Wales a £50-million ($67 million) Defence Growth Deal to expand the nation’s involvement in developing, testing, and manufacturing autonomous and uncrewed military systems.
The funding aims to bolster industrial capabilities, enhance access to specialized testing sites, and strengthen workforce skills across the defense sector. Wales is set to emerge as a central hub for research and trials of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, as well as uncrewed aerial vehicles, including one-way attack drones.
The agreement was formalized at Cardiff Castle by UK Defence Secretary John Healey, Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens. A major component of the program includes increased access to Ministry of Defence facilities such as the Aberporth testing range. Authorities also plan to coordinate with the Civil Aviation Authority and defense regulators to expand airspace corridors in central Wales to support more frequent drone trials.
The initiative further seeks to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises by helping them secure necessary clearances and compete directly for certain classified contracts. Plans are also underway to establish a Defence Technical Excellence College by September 2027 to train engineers and technical experts for the growing autonomous systems industry. Officials expect the investment to sustain and generate thousands of jobs, adding to the nearly 4,000 Welsh positions currently supported by over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in Ministry of Defence contracts.
