Key Developments
On 24 September 2026, HM Government said defence spending with UK industry reached a record £34.1 billion. The same day, HM Government said spending with Scottish industry rose to £2.53 billion, supporting jobs and the UK defence industrial base.
Key Statistics
- £34.1 billion in UK defence spending with domestic industry, according to HM Government
- 3.2% increase in UK defence spending with industry, according to HM Government
- 274,000 jobs supported by UK defence spending with industry, according to HM Government
- £100 million increase in defence spending with small and medium enterprises, according to HM Government
- £2.53 billion in defence spending with Scottish industry, according to HM Government
- 13% real-terms increase in defence spending with Scottish industry, according to HM Government
- 12,200 Scottish jobs supported by defence spending, according to HM Government
Main Body
On 24 September 2026, HM Government announced that defence spending with UK industry had reached £34.1 billion, describing the total as a record and linking it to jobs, small business support and industrial renewal. On the same day, HM Government said defence spending with Scottish industry had reached £2.53 billion in the 2025/26 financial year.
According to HM Government, UK-wide spending with industry rose by 3.2%, supported 274,000 jobs and included a £100 million increase in spending with small and medium enterprises. HM Government also said Northern Ireland recorded a 63% rise. In Scotland, HM Government said the total marked a 13% real-terms rise, supported 12,200 jobs and equalled £460 per person, compared with £390 previously.
The figures followed a related 23 September 2026 announcement, when HM Government set out an £84 million package for Plymouth’s defence growth plans, including £50 million in government funding and £34 million from local industry partners. HM Government said that package was intended to create nearly 1,000 jobs, support 500 people into work and develop a National Centre for Marine Autonomy.
The spending mattered because HM Government framed domestic defence procurement as both a security investment and an economic policy tool. HM Government said the Scottish total would strengthen the UK defence industrial base and local economies, while HM Government tied the Plymouth package to maritime autonomy, skills and regional defence growth.
