Ferguson Marine Wins Royal Navy Frigate Contract
Ferguson Marine has secured a BAE Systems contract to build three structural units for HMS Birmingham, a Type 26 frigate, supporting 300 jobs in Port Glasgow over the next 2–3 years.
The components will be delivered to BAE’s Govan yard for assembly. Scottish and UK officials hailed the deal as proof of UK defence investment and the shipyard’s growing competitiveness.
Ferguson, also building the Glen Rosa ferry, plans £14.2M in upgrades and aims to expand in both defence and commercial markets.
GKN Wins Typhoon Canopy Deal to 2030
GKN Aerospace has secured a six-year extension with BAE Systems to supply Eurofighter Typhoon canopy systems from its Luton site through 2030, ensuring continued support for the international fleet.
The contract sustains local jobs and strengthens GKN’s long-standing role on the Typhoon programme, which supports over 20,000 UK jobs and has delivered over £1.4 billion in export value.
GKN Aerospace remains a global leader in advanced aerostructures and sustainable aviation technologies.
Flitetec Expands with Two Major Distribution Deals
Flitetec has signed distribution agreements with Sliding Systems and Ancra International, boosting its aerospace portfolio across the UK and Europe. Announced at the Paris Air Show, the deals support Flitetec’s expansion in aircraft interior and cargo solutions. The Amersham-based firm expects increased turnover and staffing as it scales operations across 100 countries.
UK Launches Team Defence Strategy for Jobs and Innovation
The UK Government has launched a Team UK defence strategy to boost jobs, regional growth, and innovation. Backed by a rise in defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, the plan includes Defence Growth Deals and support for dual-use tech.
Defence firm Helsing will invest £350M in a new Resilience Factory in Plymouth, creating high-skilled jobs and advancing AI submarine tech. The strategy aims to strengthen UK defence and economy, with 151,000 jobs already supported by MoD industry spend.
New GCAP HQ Opens in Reading, Boosting Defence Jobs
The UK has opened a new HQ in Reading for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint UK-Japan-Italy initiative to develop a next-gen stealth fighter. The site will host the GCAP governing body and Edgewing, the industry JV between BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan’s JAIC.
The programme already supports 3,500 UK jobs and 1,000 apprenticeships, with more to come. It aligns with the government’s Plan for Change and rising defence spend, which now supports 151,000 jobs nationwide-up 14,000 in a year, including 4,500 new roles in the Southeast.
Homes England to Redevelop Ripon Barracks
Homes England has acquired Ripon Barracks from the MoD to build 1,300 homes with green spaces, a school, and community facilities. The phased project begins at Deverell Barracks and supports the government’s goal of delivering 1.5 million homes.
The scheme, part of the MoD’s estate optimisation plan, is a result of cross-government collaboration. Homes England will lead infrastructure work and preserve key military features in the site’s redevelopment.
ALL.SPACE Unveils Hydra MAX for Multi-Orbit Satcom
ALL.SPACE has launched Hydra MAX, the first rugged terminal enabling simultaneous full-duplex connections across multiple satellite orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO, HEO). It delivers ultra-wideband, resilient communications for defence and mobile operations, with integrated modems, edge compute, and MIL-STD-810 compliance.
The company is also developing Hydra Kuka, expanding dual-beam capabilities across Ku- and Ka-bands, setting a new benchmark for hybrid, interoperable mobile satcom.
Pulsar Fusion to Test UK’s First Fusion Space Propulsion
UK firm Pulsar Fusion will conduct its first in-orbit test of a fusion propulsion system in early 2026, launching a Power Processing Unit (PPU) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. The PPU, a compact power source for electric and fusion thrusters, recently passed ground tests and will now be trialled in space.
The test supports development of Pulsar’s Sunbird fusion-powered spacecraft, aimed at cutting travel times to the Moon and Mars. The announcement follows a meeting between Pulsar executives and MP Mark Garnier, highlighting growing UK interest in advanced space tech.