Jessica O'ConnorUnite has called on the Prime Minister to act urgently to deliver the Defence Investment Plan, warning that delays are putting thousands of highly skilled UK defence jobs at risk.
The union, which represents tens of thousands of workers across the defence sector, said uncertainty over key procurement decisions is leaving workers and employers in limbo, despite government commitments that increased defence spending would help rebuild the UK’s industrial base.
Concerns centre on jobs linked to major defence programmes, including new Typhoon aircraft for the RAF, orders for medium lift helicopters, military transport aircraft and the UK’s military satellite programme.
Unite said decisions on all of these projects depend on the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Investment Plan, which has reportedly been delayed due to spending concerns within Number 10.
The union said the lack of confirmed orders is already affecting employment across the sector.
Airbus workers in Filton are awaiting a decision on the purchase of six A400M military transport aircraft, while hundreds of Leonardo employees in Somerset are dependent on approval of the new medium lift helicopter programme, for which Leonardo became the sole bidder in 2024.
Unite has also raised concerns about the future of the UK’s military space workforce, after the government opened the Skynet 6 satellite programme to international competition.
For more than 20 years, UK military satellites have been built by Airbus at sites in Stevenage and Portsmouth, supporting hundreds of skilled jobs.
Unite said decisive action on defence procurement is essential to provide certainty for workers, protect strategic capabilities and ensure that increased defence spending delivers long-term employment and industrial benefits in the UK.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The UK’s increased defence budget must be used to boost jobs, growth and sovereign capability here in the UK.
“The prime minister has promised that increased defence spending will do that. He now needs to deliver on that promise without delay.
“Far too many defence workers are looking over their shoulders wondering where the next order will come from while the government sits on its hands. This uncertainty must end.”
