The UK and many of our allies are increasing recognising that defence must be both credible and tangible. Our adversaries are intelligent, capable, and watching closely. To deter them, we must rapidly regenerate our defence industrial capacity and demonstrate that we can stand firmly on our own.

This effort must be part of a broader, coordinated response with our NATO allies, particularly in Europe. In times of conflict, reliance on transatlantic supply chains will be tested. Building and maintaining capability closer to home isn’t just vital for the UK—it’s a strategic necessity for our partners too. We must begin to view the Defence Industry as a critical extension of our armed forces or our "Industrial Command."

The UK's Strategic Defence Review promises a new partnership with industry and the procurement reforms which make this possible at pace. It promises new munitions factories, an 'always on' pipeline and investment in UK-based companies. This panel will examine how achievable that is, and what, in our experts' opinion, needs to change to make this real, how our allies are addressing the same problem in their nations, and what our success in this endeavour means for them.