Samira Braund
Defence Director, ADS Group
From production lines and R&D labs to educational institutions and critical infrastructure, national defence is increasingly being recognised as a whole-of-society enterprise.
Modern defence readiness is no longer the sole domain of militaries and governments.
Deterrence and preparedness
In an era of geopolitical competition and hybrid threats, resilience depends on the ability to rapidly scale defence-industrial capacity, attract and retain specialised talent and foster a shared national understanding of the role citizens and industry play in deterrence and preparedness.
This requires deep structural partnerships between government, defence primes, SMEs, universities and civil society — underpinned by investment in STEM education, dual-use innovation and sovereign industrial capability.
This is a sector that already
delivers huge economic returns
for communities across the UK.
Delivering economic returns
The 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) set the tone for this urgent recalibration. Its core message? War is a ‘whole of society endeavour’ that will affect citizens as much as the Armed Forces. This isn’t just a tagline or a ‘your country needs you’ poster. It is the reason this government continues to back our sector, and it will be the vehicle in which our country’s economy grows.
This is a sector that already delivers huge economic returns for communities across the UK. Today, the UK defence industry adds £15 billion to our economy, a 70% increase since 2014 and supports more than 180,000 highly skilled jobs.
Need for coordinated action
To fully harness this potential, we need coordinated action. That means clear demand signals through the 10-year Defence Investment Plan, reforms that make it easier for SMEs to scale and policies that attract private capital into defence and dual-use technologies. It also requires a reset of our national conversation — one that celebrates our defence investment rather than criticises it. It needs to recognise defence as a force multiplier not just for security, but for economic prosperity, skills and innovation.
With the right regulatory, financial and political support, our £36 billion defence sector can thrive as a pillar of national strength. By mobilising society — from the classroom to the supply chain — we can ensure the UK remains resilient, competitive and prepared for the challenges ahead.
