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Uncrewed Systems: Testing

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 1 July 2026UIN 12337

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Ministry of Defence's press release entitled Europe's largest drone testing centre opens in Swindon to boost defence innovation, published on 12 June 2026, what estimate he has made of the value of defence exports that may result from technologies developed or tested at the new facility.

Answered by Luke Pollard

Given the speed of innovation in uncrewed systems technology, it is not possible to estimate with certainty the likely value of defence exports that may result from technologies developed or tested at the Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC). Nevertheless, by accelerating the UK's position as a leader in uncrewed capability in Europe, we believe the USC will unlock future exports in an ever-evolving technology.

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