UK Defence Footprint – Making Defence an Engine for Growth

UK Defence Footprint
Making Defence an engine for growth

UK Defence Footprint
Making Defence an engine for growth

© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government
Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit
nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will
need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at: www.gov.uk/official-documents

Table of contents
United Kingdom 4
Scotland 6
Northern Ireland 8
Wales 10
North East 12
North West 14
Yorkshire and the Humber 16
East Midlands 18
West Midlands 20
East of England 22
London 24
South East 26
South West 28
Glossary 30
Sources 32
Background notes 33
1UK Defence Footprint 2025

Making defence an engine
for economic growth in
the nations and regions
In the Plan for Change, the government pledged to improve the lives of people in every
corner of the UK, by growing the economy.
The security guaranteed by a strong Defence underpins the economic prosperity of
the UK. A stronger defence sector that is fit for the future will boost prosperity in all
corners of the country, make us more resilient, and deter our adversaries.
That’s why the government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence
spending since the Cold War: 2.6% of GDP by 2027, an ambition to increase to 3% in
the next parliament, as fiscal and economic conditions allow, and a historic commitment
to spend 5% on national security by 2035 alongside our NATO allies.
Increasing defence spending to 2.6% by 2027 to 2028 means that, over this Spending
Review period, the government will invest over £270 billion in cash terms on defence.
The Defence Industrial Strategy outlined how we will successfully implement the Strategic
Defence Review; moving to warfighting readiness to deter increasing threats, drive
defence as an engine for jobs and growth, innovate at a wartime pace to get the best kit
into the hands of our war fighters, and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve
with better housing and better pay. This will deliver on our ambition to make the UK the
best place in the world to start and grow a defence firm and will put Britain at the leading
edge of innovation.
In a powerful boost to the UK economy, the latest figures show a real-terms increase
of 6% of Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure with UK industry in 2024 to 2025,
up to a record high of £31.7 billion. These figures show how the defence dividend
from our record investment is benefitting working people across the UK.
The MOD already supports over 460,000 jobs and 24,000 apprenticeships across the UK,
providing sustainable, high-quality, well-paying jobs, the majority of which are outside
London and the South East.
This booklet provides key figures on how Defence is actively contributing to employment,
growth and security in your area.
3UK Defence Footprint 2025

United Kingdom
As at 1 April 2025:
131,280
UK Regular Forces
in the UK
53,400
MOD Civilian
personnel in
the UK
29,200
Strength of the
Trained Future
Reserves 2020*
*Volunteer Reserves can provide support to the Regular Forces at home and overseas.
In 2024 to 2025:
£31.7 billion
MOD expenditure
with UK industry
(up by 6% after inflation
from £29.9 billion
in the previous year)
£460
MOD expenditure with
industry for each person
living in the UK
£1.2 billion
MOD direct
expenditure with small
and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs)
In 2023 to 2024:
272,000
industry-supported
direct and indirect jobs
(up by 11% from 244,000
in the previous year)
24,000
MOD apprenticeships
4 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Selected UK Defence Industry Locations
5UK Defence Footprint 2025

Scotland
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
3,880
civilians
9,740
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
4,410
Royal Navy
3,180
Army
2,140
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£2.1b
total
expenditure
£390
expenditure
per person
on defence
£1.3b
top industry
sector*
* shipbuilding and repairing (including submarines)
£23m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
BAE Systems has a significant presence in Scotland, including
shipbuilding in Glasgow, electronics development and manufacturing
near Dunfermline, an aircraft engineering support facility in Prestwick,
munitions testing and evaluation in Bishopton, and supporting the
Typhoon fleet at RAF Lossiemouth. Leonardo provides surveillance
radars and countermeasure systems from Edinburgh, and Boeing
Defence UK supports the operation of Poseidon P-8A aircraft at
RAF Lossiemouth. In Rosyth, Babcock International build Type 31
ships, support the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, and
dismantle decommissioned nuclear submarines, DXC Technology
has a cyber threat analysis centre in Bishopton. In Glasgow,
Rolls-Royce provide specialist nuclear engineering support,
and Thales develop electro-optical systems. Scotland is also a hub
for academic research and development in the maritime domain.
11,800
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
6 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
Edinburgh Garrison includes Edinburgh Castle, Redford Barracks,
Glencorse Barracks and Dreghorn Barracks. Edinburgh Garrison is
home to Joint Military Command Scotland (an Army 1* formation in
Redford Barracks).
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in Scotland. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more detail
on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
7UK Defence Footprint 2025

Northern Ireland
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
760
civilians
1,210
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
10
Royal Navy
1,150
Army
60
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£271m
total
expenditure
£140
expenditure
per person
on defence
£226m
top industry
sector*
* weapons and ammunition (including armoured fighting vehicles)
£2m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
Thales has a significant presence in Northern Ireland with a 60-year
heritage, employing people across the defence and space sectors.
Belfast is home to the global Space Electric Propulsion Integration
Centre, a joint venture between Thales and Thales Alenia Space,
which is jointly owned by the Italian defence company Leonardo
and the Thales Group. The Centre designs satellite-based
systems and builds next-generation propulsion systems. It also
undertakes integration and testing of new innovative military
payloads. Harland and Wolff has now been acquired by Navantia
UK, ensuring the Fleet Solid Support Programme will continue in
Belfast. Spirit AeroSystems, based in Belfast, is being acquired by
Boeing and the A220 Wings manufacturing part of the business
will be bought by Airbus.
900
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
8 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
Thiepval Barracks is also home to HMS Hibernia, headquarters of the
Royal Naval Reserve in Northern Ireland.
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in Northern Ireland. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more
detail on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
9UK Defence Footprint 2025

Wales
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
920
civilians
1,880
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
160
Royal Navy
1,320
Army
390
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£1.1b
total
expenditure
£340
expenditure
per person
on defence
£527m
top industry
sector*
* weapons and ammunition (including armoured fighting vehicles)
£42m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
A number of defence strategic suppliers have established locations
across Wales. General Dynamics has its UK headquarters near
Caerphilly and specialises in armoured fighting vehicles from their
base in Merthyr Tydfil. Airbus has a site in Broughton focusing
on wing design and manufacture, and a space facility in Newport
which leads cyber security research initiatives. Thales UK provides
digital trust and cyber resilience from their base in Ebbw Vale and
QinetiQ provides testing of aerial systems at their base in Aberporth.
BAE Systems in Glascoed supplies approximately 80% of the
‘general munitions’ consumed by UK Armed Forces for training
and front-line operations. BAE Systems staff are also located at
RAF Valley, providing support for Hawk trainer jets. MOD Sealand
is a nominated UK repair depot for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
3,900
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
10 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in Wales. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more detail on
how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
11UK Defence Footprint 2025

North East
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
190
civilians
940
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
10
Royal Navy
430
Army
500
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£178m
total regional
expenditure
£60
expenditure
per person
on defence
£47m
top industry
sector*
* shipbuilding and repairing (including submarines)
£63m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
A number of Defence strategic suppliers have established
themselves in the North East of England. BAE Systems has
two munition sites in the region, in Washington near Sunderland,
and Risdale in Northumberland. Washington is also home to
Rolls-Royce’s aerospace disc manufacturing facility which
manufactures over 1,500 turbines a year for military and civilian
aircraft engines. DXC Technology, provider of IT services to the
MOD, has offices in Newcastle. In 2023, Leonardo opened a machine
learning, data analytics and artificial intelligence centre in Newcastle.
The world’s largest defence company, Lockheed Martin, has formed
a partnership with Northumbria University to create the North East
Space Skills and Technology Centre. Newcastle is also home to local
companies such as Pearson Engineering, a key supplier of armoured
vehicles to the British Armed Forces. UK Docks has its headquarters
in the North East, delivering a range of dry dock and marine services.
2,000
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
12 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in the North East. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more
detail on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
13UK Defence Footprint 2025

North West
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
1,800
civilians
1,360
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
230
Royal Navy
1,020
Army
100
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£4.8b
total regional
expenditure
£620
expenditure
per person
on defence
£2.2b
top industry
sector*
* shipbuilding and repairing (including submarines)
£29m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
The region is home to significant BAE Systems locations.
In Barrow-in-Furness, they are delivering Astute, Dreadnought
and the future submarines as part of the AUKUS trilateral security
partnership. In Warton and Samlesbury, they are delivering our
current and future combat air capabilities. In Radway Green in
Crewe, they are manufacturing and testing small arms munitions.
Elsewhere in the region, Raytheon Systems is providing cyber
security expertise from Salford and MBDA’s engineering facility
in Bolton manufactures some of the most critical elements of our
missile systems. Cammell Laird is a global leader in the maritime
defence sector. Its defence division provides shipbuilding,
ship repair, conversion and fabrications services in the region.
20,100
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
14 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in the North West. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more
detail on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
15UK Defence Footprint 2025

Yorkshire and the Humber
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
1,770
civilians
12,510
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
70
Royal Navy
10,990
Army
1,460
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£971m
total regional
expenditure
£170
expenditure
per person
on defence
£412m
top industry
sector*
* technical, financial and other business services
£36m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
BAE Systems has a strong presence in the region. Its facility in
Brough, near Hull, supports digital engineering for submarine
and air programmes. Humberside Airport is home to its aircraft
maintenance academy. BAE Systems also recently announced
the creation of 50 new jobs as part of a £25 million investment
in Sheffield specialising in artillery. Elsewhere in the region,
Rolls-Royce has an advanced blade casting facility in Rotherham,
while Sheffield Forgemasters is a heavy engineering company
with over 200 years’ experience. It is a fully accredited supplier
of steel castings and forgings for the global defence and marine
industries, and provides critical components for the UK’s defence
nuclear programmes.
3,200
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
16 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in Yorkshire and the Humber. It is not an exhaustive list of
every site, more detail on how sites were selected can be found in
the background notes.
17UK Defence Footprint 2025

East Midlands
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
1,670
civilians
7,980
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
140
Royal Navy
2,210
Army
5,630
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£1.6b
total regional
expenditure
£310
expenditure
per person
on defence
£732m
top industry
sector*
* shipbuilding and repairing (including submarines)
£55m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
Derby is home to Rolls-Royce, one of the world’s best-known
engine and nuclear component manufacturers, providing a range
of solutions for Defence. With more than 16,000 military engines in
service with 160 customers in 103 countries, Rolls-Royce is a key
player in the defence aero engine market. BAE Systems is partnering
with the MOD to maintain and support the RAF fleet of Typhoon
aircraft at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Leonardo’s Lincoln site
offers a dedicated facility to provide electronic warfare operational
support. The location also includes Leonardo’s training academy
which educates technical specialists from the UK and internationally
within the cyber and electromagnetic activities domain.
7,500
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
18 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in the East Midlands. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more
detail on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
19UK Defence Footprint 2025

West Midlands
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
2,530
civilians
7,270
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
470
Royal Navy
4,420
Army
2,380
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£1.7b
total regional
expenditure
£270
expenditure
per person
on defence
£802m
top industry
sector*
* technical, financial and other business services
£69m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
The West Midlands is home to a number of manufacturers
supporting UK Armed Forces. Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land,
based in Telford, designs, manufactures and supports military
vehicles used by the British Army and international customers
including ‘Boxer’, a state-of-the-art wheeled armoured vehicle.
The Defence Fulfilment Centre at Donnington is operated by
Team Leidos and is the driving force behind delivering effective
logistics for the MOD. The introduction of the Defence Fulfilment
Centre has enabled the consolidation of fast-moving items
into a single location. In Birmingham, Boeing is building new
E-7 Wedgetail early-warning aircraft for the RAF and US Air Force.
7,900
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
20 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader
defence footprint in the West Midlands. It is not an exhaustive list of
every site, more detail on how sites were selected can be found in
the background notes.
21UK Defence Footprint 2025

East of England
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
3,330
civilians
12,680
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
1,120
Royal Navy
7,570
Army
4,000
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£1.6b
total regional
expenditure
£250
expenditure
per person
on defence
£468m
top industry
sector*
* technical, financial and other business services
£72m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
As a legacy of the Second World War the East of England is
home to many air bases hosting state-of-the-art air systems,
including those operated by visiting US forces. The UK’s fleet of
F-35 Lightning aircraft is based at RAF Marham. The region hosts
major defence suppliers including Lockheed Martin UK, MBDA in
Stevenage and Airbus, delivering ground-breaking missile, space
and electronics technologies. Raytheon has its UK headquarters
in Harlow, Essex which is also the home of its Technology Centre
of Excellence. The company is focused on the following key areas:
airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision
weapons, cyber and intelligence, and mission critical systems.
8,200
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
22 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader
defence footprint in the East of England. It is not an exhaustive list of
every site, more detail on how sites were selected can be found in
the background notes.
23UK Defence Footprint 2025

London
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
4,320
civilians
3,480
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
470
Royal Navy
1,990
Army
1,010
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£3.0b
total regional
expenditure
£330
expenditure
per person
on defence
£601m
top industry
sector*
* technical, financial and other business services
£120m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
As an international centre for technology and finance, London is
home to the global and regional headquarters of many of the MOD’s
largest suppliers including Capita, Lockheed Martin and Boeing
UK. It is a global hub for the kind of technological development that
will be essential for equipping our Armed Forces in the future and
for ensuring the UK’s national prosperity through an internationally
competitive defence industry. Also in the region is BAE Systems
Digital Intelligence, who are developing world-leading technologies
with defence and wider applications. London is also home to leading
defence technology companies such as Helsing and Palantir,
among others.
9,700
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
24 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
Royal Guardrooms – includes Buckingham Palace, Tower of London
and St James’s Place.
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in London. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more detail
on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
25UK Defence Footprint 2025

South East
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
9,610
civilians
37,410
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
11,400
Royal Navy
16,540
Army
9,470
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£7.9b
total regional
expenditure
£810
expenditure
per person
on defence
£3.0b
top industry
sector*
* technical, financial and other business services
£270m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
The South East of England has strong links to Defence. The region
includes several major BAE Systems sites, including in Portsmouth,
where they are delivering key warship support and infrastructure
services, the nearby Broad Oak site manufacturing naval systems,
and the Cowes site on the Isle of Wight developing radar technology.
Airbus has its headquarters for helicopter activity in the UK at
Oxford Airport, with 100 of its rotorcraft in service with the MOD.
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire hosts Airtanker, which provides
safe and effective operation of the RAF’s fleet of voyager military
transporter aircraft. Farnborough is the headquarters of QinetiQ,
a leading science and engineering company operating primarily
in the defence and security markets. Crawley is home to Thales’s
largest UK site, from which it has delivered equipment and services
to the MOD since 1964.
38,700
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
26 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
Aldershot – contains Aldershot Garrison, Home Command
and Regional Command
Andover – contains Army HQ and HQ Field Army
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in the South East. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more
detail on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
27UK Defence Footprint 2025

South West
Personnel numbers as at 1 April 2025:
22,460
civilians
34,820
UK Regular
Forces*
* Personnel total and
subtotal figures are
rounded separately and
may not equal the sums
of their rounded parts.
12,830
Royal Navy
20,550
Army
1,430
RAF
MOD spending with UK industry and commerce, 2024 to 2025
£6.6b
total regional
expenditure
£1,120
expenditure
per person
on defence
£2.1b
top industry
sector*
* technical, financial and other business services
£397m
expenditure
with SMEs
Strategic suppliers and key industry sites
There is a high concentration of defence suppliers in the South West.
Leonardo in Yeovil builds helicopters. The Raytheon Cyber Innovation
Centre in Gloucester is responsible for research, software development
and global cybersecurity. Thales’ maritime and air operations are based
in Templecombe, and they have opened a new maritime autonomy
centre in Plymouth. Rolls-Royce in Bristol builds and maintains gas
turbine engines for combat and transport aircraft and ships. Airbus has
a facility in Bristol which builds wings for the A400M aircraft. Babcock
International Group has sites in Bristol, and at Devonport Royal
Dockyard, which provides deep submarine maintenance. BAE Systems
has operations in Bristol, Christchurch, Yeovil and Weymouth, as well
as Digital Intelligence employees in Dorchester and Gloucester.
Veteran-founded Rowden produce sensing and decision-making
capabilities for the Armed Forces in Bristol.
37,300
directly
supported
industry jobs,
2023 to 2024
28 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Key MOD sites in the region
The locations plotted on this map are illustrative of the broader defence
footprint in the South West. It is not an exhaustive list of every site, more
detail on how sites were selected can be found in the background notes.
29UK Defence Footprint 2025

Glossary
Scotland
DM Defence Munitions
HMNB His Majesty’s Naval Base
HMS His Majesty’s Ship
RM Royal Marines
RNAD Royal Naval Armament Depot
Wales
IBS Infantry Battle School
OLTC Outdoor Leadership Training Centre
North East
DSTL Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Yorkshire and the Humber
AFC Army Foundation College
DST Defence School of Transport
East Midlands
DATR Defence Animal Training Regiment
DNRC Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre
West Midlands
DM Defence Munitions
DMS Defence Medical Services
RCDM Royal College for Defence Medicine
UK Defence Footprint 202530

East of England
MRTC Mission Ready Training Centre
London
DGC Defence Geographic Centre
South East
AAC Army Aviation Centre
ATC Army Training Centre
AWE Atomic Weapons Establishment
DSTL Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
RHQ AGC Regimental Headquarters Adjutant General’s Corps
RMAS Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
RSME Royal School of Military Engineering
South West
BRNC Britannia Royal Naval College
CBRN Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
CTCRM Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
DSTL Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
RNAS Royal Naval Air Service
UKHO UK Hydrographic Office
31UK Defence Footprint 2025

Sources
Personnel:
MOD civilian personnel in the UK: Location statistics for UK Regular Armed Forces
and civilians 2025, Table 2.1a in associated open data.
UK Regular Forces, by service: Location statistics for UK Regular Armed Forces
and civilians 2025, Table 2.1b in associated open data.
Future Reserves 2020: Quarterly Service personnel statistics: 1 April 2025.
Expenditure:
MOD expenditure with UK industry: MOD regional expenditure statistics with industry
2024 to 2025, Tables 2, 4, 8 and 9 in associated data tables.
Employment:
Jobs supported by MOD expenditure: MOD supported employment estimates 2023
to 2024, Table 1 and 3 in associated data tables.
Apprenticeships: MOD annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024, page 15.
Strategic suppliers:
Information on the strategic suppliers and selected other key suppliers in regions was
provided by Defence Commercial.
Key sites by region:
The sites included are based on a combination of physical size of establishments using
data from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, personnel numbers at establishments
provided by the Analysis Directorate and other subject matter expertise provided by
sources within the MOD. For more MOD statistics please see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-accredited-official-and-official-statistics-
by-topic/mod-national-and-official-statistics-by-topic
32 UK Defence Footprint 2025

Background notes
This booklet is intended as a light-touch, top-level overview of Defence’s expenditure
footprint in each region. Data is presented by International Territorial Levels
Level 1 Regions.
Different time points have been used in this booklet.
Royal Navy includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Civilian personnel includes those
working in MOD Main and the four executive agencies (Defence Equipment and Support,
Submarine Delivery Agency, UK Hydrographic Office, and Defence Science and
Technology Laboratory).
Military personnel deployed on operations and temporary assignments are counted
against their permanent stationed location in regional personnel figures.
Figures in this publication have been rounded. Personnel figures are rounded to the
nearest 10, with numbers ending in a ‘5’ rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent
the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. Totals and sub-totals
are rounded separately and may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. Expenditure
figures have been rounded to the nearest million, excluding figures over a billion which
are presented to the nearest 0.1 billion.
Definitions
UK Regular Forces – includes both trained and untrained personnel and comprises
full-time Service personnel, including nursing services, but excludes full-time Reserve
Service personnel, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service and mobilised Reservists.
Future Reserves 2020 – includes Volunteer Reserves who are mobilised, High Readiness
Reserves and those Volunteer Reserves serving on Full-time Reserve Service and
Additional Duties Commitment.
Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) – refers to an enterprise or business with
fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than or equal to £44 million
in annual turnover or a balance sheet total of less than or equal to £38 million.
Directly supported industry jobs – direct jobs are defined as those supported within
companies receiving payments for goods and services directly from MOD.
Indirect industry jobs – jobs generated as a result of supporting and supplying
goods and services to those in direct employment. It is therefore a measure of jobs
that occur further down the supply chain through sub-contracting or via suppliers
to the direct contractor
Strategic suppliers – the Strategic Partnering Programme is a joint MOD and Cabinet
Office programme to reshape government’s relationship with industry. The decision
to establish the MOD Strategic Partnering Programme was taken in 2018.
33UK Defence Footprint 2025

Produced by Analysis Directorate
Designed by Design102
© Crown Copyright 2025
Published by Ministry of Defence
This document is available at GOV.UK