Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Resilient industrial capacity and supply chains are crucial for sustaining armed forces equipment.
Conclusion
The final lesson is the importance of having the industrial ability and capacity to sustain equipment if supply chains are disrupted. The Department said that this means making sure that the armed forces could continue to operate equipment, even if the UK’s allies have been disrupted for political or technical reasons.20 The Department regards factories as in effect being part of weapon systems because they are fundamental to the UK’s ability to fight and sustain its armed forces.21 The Department explained that the UK defence industry needs to be reorganised to increase its capacity when needed to meet greater demand.22
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 16 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗