Over 100 jobs created at new Swindon drone factory
The factory is Stark's first UK site and is expected to be operational by 2026
Last updated 20th Nov 2025
A new manufacturing facility in Swindon, is set to create over 100 jobs as part of the UK’s efforts to increase domestic drone production.
The purpose-built 40,000-square-foot facility is Stark's first production site outside of Germany.
Jobs will be available in fields such as software, electronics, and aerospace engineering during the facility’s first year.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), The Stark factory will be operational by 2026 and begin producing AI-enabled uncrewed systems in the coming months.
The MoD added Stark systems equipped with UK and European warheads are capable of destroying heavily armoured vehicles, while costing a fraction of the price.
During the opening ceremony today, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said:
"This facility is the Strategic Defence Review in action - building UK industrial strength, creating over 100 skilled jobs, and ensuring we can produce the drones and munitions that modern conflict demands," the Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak said.
"One year on, our partnership with Germany through the Trinity House Agreement is already delivering real industrial co-operation and investment at home.
"This site will strengthen supply chains, accelerate innovation and give the UK and our allies the edge to stay ahead of our adversaries."
The opening follows the signing of the Trinity House Agreement, a commitment established in October 2024 to enhance bilateral defence co-operation between Germany and the UK.
The MoD say under the agreement, both countries are expanding co-operation on next-generation battlefield technologies, including autonomous systems and long-range strike weapons.
It added that the partnership also supports Nato’s collection security and the UK Government’s goals for economic growth.
The factory will manufacture systems like the Virtus loitering munition, which has been deployed in Ukraine and can be assembled in just 10 minutes.
Mike Armstrong, managing director of Stark UK, said: "We are delighted to be opening our first factory in the UK - which will strengthen European supply chains, boost UK sovereign defence production, and support the shift toward affordable, scalable autonomous systems.
"With over a century of advanced manufacturing heritage and the presence of Army HQ and Air Command, Swindon is the ideal place to build the next generation of AI-enabled systems, shaped directly by feedback from operators in Ukraine.
"Our first UK site will create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in its first year and marks just the start of our investment journey in the UK, supporting the MoD, Ukraine and wider European partners."
According to the MoD figures show government investment in UK defence industries reached £31.7 billion last year, a real-terms increase of 6%.