Military vehicle maker eyes growth after orders boost

A military vehicle maker is rolling out expansion plans following bumper demand.

Armexis says it has secured letters of intent and pre-orders for 90 armoured platforms.

The boost comes just days after the Harrogate-based business unveiled £17.5 million work to send four tracked craft to Ukraine.

And bosses have now made an investment pitch to build on its success through the creation of a larger manufacturing base it says will support plans for a targeted 4000-plus workforce by 2030. 

The manned and unmanned vehicle maker says it is already recruiting for a finance director and design engineers, and seeking to fill additional engineering, manufacturing, programme delivery and operational roles.

Highlighting its desire to work with “mission-aligned investors and partners”, Richard Matthews, group chief executive, said the business wants to speak to parties that can “help accelerate delivery and support the creation of a robust UK manufacturing base”.

He said: “The response to Armexis has been extraordinary. 

“Receiving letters of intent and pre-orders for 90 platforms is a major validation of the capability we are developing.

“The unmanned market is one of the most exciting and important areas of modern capability, and we have the ambition and technical foundation to play a meaningful role in that space.

“We now need the right investment, partners and people around us to help complete this mission.”

The business is set to deliver people carriers and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine in the second quarter of 2027, and Richard said additional support would enable the firm to use the contract as a foundation stone to greater success.

He added: “We are proud to be based in Harrogate and proud to be building this capability in the UK. 

“We are already speaking with several local authorities who understand the economic and strategic opportunity we represent. 

“The right location will be critical to our next phase of growth, and we are focused on building a manufacturing base that can support British jobs, engineering and the security needs of the UK and its allies.

“The interest we are seeing is validation of our journey to date, but it is only the beginning.”

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