Specialising in aerospace, materials, maritime, digital, defence consultancy and electronic engineering. Dorset is not shy of boasting world class organisations which help to support the UK’s Defence and Security.
Download our Investment Guide to Dorset's Defence and Security Sector
Aerospace
The Aerospace manufacturing, production and support community of the region includes primes Draken Europe, Eaton Mission Systems and a strong supply base including GAMA Aviation, Curtiss Wright and Honeywell International. The total value of the defence aviation sector of Dorset is in excess of £450M with over 2800 skilled employees across the supply base.
Materials
Materials and composites are an important factor in the production and manufacturing of high-tech equipment for military and security applications. There are a number of material suppliers in Dorset offering milling, grinding, coating, machining, fabrication and welding which are fundamental to delivering high grade, high tech and sustainable military equipment.
Maritime
Maritime is a strong sector in defence led by primes BAES, QinetiQ, Atlas Elektronik UK and Ultra Maritime. There is significant capability in the maritime sector for defence in Dorset with underwater sensors and signatures, autonomy, composites, electronics, digital and processing. The total value of the maritime sector in Dorset is in excess of £480M with over 1600 employees.
Digital
BAE Systems Christchurch lead the charge in delivering digital capability to UK MoD and they are well supported by a supply base valued at over £400M. This is underpinned by a vibrant and future proof workforce of over 470 personnel developing and maintaining the skills required to keep pace with the rapid growth and innovation in the digital sector
Defence Consultancy
The intellectual capital that comes with the consultancy sector completes the package of a world leading defence and security eco-system in Dorset with wellestablished companies such as Frazer Nash and BMT offering advice in safety, design and innovation to the end to end engineering services provided by KDC projects.
Electronic Engineering
Dorset is strong in electronic engineering and has enjoyed an excellent reputation for well established high tech quality engineering which underpins the other key domains of aerospace, maritime and digital. With a value of over £80M the sector employs over 1400 highly skilled engineers and business support staff.