The city of Swindon in southwest England is set to open the largest drone manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom in 2026.
This was announced on Monday by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The Swindon-based factory belongs to the British-Portuguese company Tekever, which already operates several production lines in the UK. Swindon has strong historical ties to defence, helping to produce the Supermarine Spitfire in World War Two.
The plant will produce StormShroud drones, which are already in service with the Royal Air Force.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
This new factory is a clear demonstration that this government is making defence an engine for growth across the UK. Tekever’s expansion will bring high-skilled jobs and world-leading drone manufacturing to Swindon, while strengthening defence supply chains. By backing Britain’s defence industry, we strengthen both our economy and national security."
The factory is expected to open in 2026 and provide “1,000 highly skilled jobs for British workers,” the announcement stated.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK has purchased approximately £270 million of Tekever drones to provide to Ukraine, including contributions from international partners through the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine.
