Portsmouth defence company says government need to deliver new plan with support
It's after a £15 billion defence investment plan was laid out yesterday
A Portsmouth defence manufacturing company says now the defence funding's been announced, it needs to be delivered with support and in a "timely manner".
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer set out a £15 billion defence investment plan yesterday.
Craig Pyser's the CEO of AMufacture, based in Portsmouth, which manufactures components for drones.
He said: "So the money is obviously important and we've allocated an extra £15 billion.
"The reality is that it's not just about the money, it's about supporting the industries.
"For instance, if you want to open a new facility, let's have some business rate reductions, look at employment incentives, look at regenerating areas.
"There is so much potential within the UK.
"We're already and still a fantastic, innovative country, of course we are.
"But what we need is more government support.
"It's the kind of support that is not just focused on here's some money, go make something.
"Because if it goes down the conventional route of the large primes and there's a framework agreement, it could take literally decades to receive the money, and that's not how this has been positioned.
"This is about being agile, let's be innovative, let's get that money where it needs to be, and then growing in that regard so we can defend our nation."
The new investment plans include billions more for the next generation of stealth jets, the largest ever investment in drone warfare and confirmation the UK will buy F-35A planes capable of carrying nuclear bombs.