Defence Minister Maria Eagle visits RBSL’s Telford site

Above: Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, The Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, visits the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land manufacturing facility in Telford.
MoD Crown Copyright

Telford’s skilled manufacturing base is helping equip soldiers with high-tech equipment and drive the government’s growth mission. Investment in defence has attracted over £56 million for defence manufacturing facility in Telford.

During the Minister’s visit, the team highlighted the facility producing British made Boxer vehicles to be delivered under the UK Mechanised Infantry Vehicle Programme. Manufactured on British soil, by British teams, in British facilities with a significant British supply chain – this cements Boxer as a truly ‘Made in Britain’ product and a symbol of the nation’s engineering expertise and sovereign manufacturing capability.

Boxer is a future force enabler, designed for adaptability, resilience and operational superiority. Boxer ensures the British Army is ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges, whilst delivering economic impact – creating 4,000 highly skilled jobs in engineering, development and complex systems integration – and empowering UK suppliers to export into Rheinmetall’s global supply chain.

RBSL’s commitment to end-to-end capability – from assembly and integration to testing in-house – ensures rapid advanced technology exploitation, enabling enhanced lethality and operational readiness for the British Armed Forces, provding future-ready solutions like the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank, the most lethal tank ever operated by the British Army.

Beyond its national impact, RBSL plays a crucial role in enhancing UK-Europe collaboration, strengthening interoperability with NATO forces and driving regional security and stability. RBSL is also creating a foundation for further collaborative programmes to ensure NATO interoperability and position the UK at the centre of land system defence in Europe.

The Boxer programme and the Challenger 3 main battle tank are driving opportunities with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to enhance regional security, stability and economic growth, towards building resilience for the UK and NATO allies.

The Minister met with RBSL’s talented workforce, thanking them for their dedication to programmes. As a gesture of appreciation, Boxer coins were presented to members of the team while she delivered words of encouragement, emphasising the significance of their contributions to the UK’s defence and industrial strategy.

Maria Eagle MP said: “Telford is at the heart of UK defence and I was pleased to witness first-hand how our defence industry is equipping the Armed Forces with 21st-century armoured fighting vehicles.

“In the face of global threats, the Government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy will drive economic growth, boost British jobs and strengthen national security.”

Will Gibby, Managing Director of RBSL, said: “We are proud to welcome Maria Eagle MP to our Telford facility to showcase our role in delivering the Land Industrial Strategy.

"Through programmes like Boxer and Challenger 3, RBSL is committed to providing sovereign capability for the UK, supporting the British Army, and investing in the workforce of tomorrow through our apprenticeship and graduate schemes.

"Today’s visit highlights the value of UK-based manufacturing and the expertise we bring to the defence industry.”

With continued investment, innovation and collaboration, RBSL aims to forward sovereign defence capability, ensuring the UK remains a leader in advanced complex manufacturing and a trusted partner in building resilience and security for generations to come.

This visit was seen to serve the reaffirmation of the importance of collaborative partnerships between government and industry in enhancing national security, strengthening the UK’s industrial base and driving long-term prosperity.