UK Government Seeks Munitions Manufacturing for Strategic Defence Readiness

The MoD aims to achieve this through a coherent set of significant multi-year investments in onshore energetic materials synthesis through UK-based or overseas-based suppliers. These investments will typically form part, but not all, of the funding required for the establishment of a facility. During the formal tender documentation process, suppliers should consider how they will generate UK growth.

Companies with established order books/markets will be prioritised. Proposals must demonstrate that they are economically and technically viable to progress. Consideration should also be given to: 1. The scale of the proposed facility and the market demand required to support it: 1.1 Proposals should assume a range of scenarios such as surge demand and reduced or minimal UK MoD demand.

1.2 Other offtakes, such as exports and civilian markets, should be considered and are expected to form the majority of the demand signal. UK government, via the MoD's Defence Exports team, will actively support export campaigns. 2 Economic viability including fluctuating demand and market prices. 2.1 Proposals should be economically viable as further support funding for facilities is not envisioned.

3 The level of investment required (VROM) and how this will be raised: 3.1 Including internal company investment and external venture capital 3.2 It is expected that MoD funding will not form the majority of funding for proposals.

4 Wider requirements to establish a facility including: 4.1 Regulatory 4.2 Skills 4.3 Export support (including UKEF) 4.4 Technology 4.5 Sites Additional information: Next steps are for suppliers to register their interest in one-to-one engagements with MOD in Q1 2026 via the email address shown below.

Companies should provide a 15 minute pitch covering proposed materials, scale and approach to manufacture, as well as economic viability. Formal tender process is targeted to commence in Q1 2026. Proposals which can demonstrate economic and technical viability with available capital for investment will be prioritised.

For viable proposals, further support in the following areas may be available: identifying sites, engagement with regulators, export support, energy relief under the Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Compensation Scheme, and access to R&D funding sources. Suitable proposals will be invited to complete a funded feasibility study (subject to commercial and affordability requirements).

Details of what is involved in this feasibility study will be provided in the initial meeting. Companies that continue to demonstrate technical and financial credibility and a commercially viable proposition will be invited to complete a funded Front End Engineering Design (FEED) -again subject to commercial and affordability requirements.

Following successful competition of a FEED and on final agreement of wider commercial terms required for investment a contract may be placed for MoD investment into the production facility (factory). Timelines will be dependent on the complexity of the proposals. MOD anticipates that construction will begin in 2026.