New defence centre plan for Farnborough
PM unveiled plans at airshow as a drone deal was signed with the French
PRIME minister David Cameron has unveiled plans for a major new defence project in Farnborough, describing the town as a crucial ‘centre for innovation’ for UK defence.
Speaking at the launch of Farnborough Airshow on Monday, Mr Cameron announced defence spending to the tune of £1.1 billion to boost the country’s armed forces.
That includes £800m for a new surveillance package and another £300m for a new ice patrol ship and radar.
Mr Cameron said the measures would improve the armed forces’ capabilities in responding to terrorism and hostage situations.
Billions of pounds worth of export orders are expected to be placed during the biennial airshow, which will benefit the UK defence sector and the wider British economy.
In Farnborough specifically, the government will establish a UK Defence Solutions Centre to further unify work involving various sectors on new defence technology.
The centre will bring together ministers and industry leaders to identify key market opportunities, and ensure that Britain stakes its claim for a slice of the £82bn global defence market.
“This new centre is great news for the UK’s defence industry and great news for Farnborough,” Mr Cameron told the News & Mail.
“By bringing together the best minds from across the UK’s defence industry, this centre will help companies in the UK identify new opportunities and develop the worldbeating products of the future.”
He added that the deal would further cement Farnborough’s position as a centre for innovation in defence, not just in the UK, but worldwide.
It comes after Mr Cameron penned a letter in the Daily Telegraph, which was published on Monday morning, setting out his plans for the announcement in Farnborough.
During his hour-long visit to the airshow, Mr Cameron said the £1.1bn investment would protect Britain against increasingly unseen enemies.
“There are threats that you cannot defend against from the White Cliffs of Dover,” he said, adding the government’s new funding commitments would close a ‘black hole’ in the defence budget inherited from Labour.
Labour, however, has said the announcement only sought to reverse mistakes made by the Tory party during its 2010 Strategic Defence Review.
The airshow also hosted Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, minister for the cabinet office, cities and constitution, and the newly-appointed minister for universities and science, who signed a £118m Enterprise M3 growth deal.
The deal will see significant investment in skills and technology centres, improvements to roads, sustainable transport measures and the unlocking of housing developments to ensure the Enterprise M3 area remains at the forefront of technological development and innovation.
The 21 projects that form the ‘growth deal’ will help the area to retain its position as an economic powerhouse both nationally and internationally, according to the government.
Major road schemes to alleviate congestion and improve access in Basingstoke, Woking, Camberley and Bordon, are also part of the package.
Enterprise M3 chairman Geoff French said: “We are delighted that the minister joined us at Farnborough International Airshow and that he chose our growth deal to be the first one in the country to be signed.
“We have already invested £2.5m in the new infrastructure developments that can be seen at this year’s airshow site. The 41 new chalet structures form a key part of Farnborough International Ltd’s ongoing development plans and have already gone a long way in helping to safeguard the future of the Farnborough Airshow.”
At the airshow on Tuesday, defence co-operation between the UK and France was strengthened with agreements signed at the event. Outgoing defence secretary Philip Hammond and JeanYves Le Drian agreed to bolster co-operation over the acquisition and support of military equipment. The two countries also agreed a £120m feasibility phase with six industry partners for the joint development of unmanned air combat technologies.