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*PART 2 OF 3 - WHAT LABOUR HAS DELIVERED IN 2 YEARS*
### _3. DELIVERING NEW KIT BRITISH COMPANIES JOBS SKILLS IN 2 YEARS - MANIFESTO IN ACTION_
_Steel cut, ships launched, factories opened, colleges created, helicopters sustained, supply chains tested:_
_Naval Shipbuilding Frigates - Babcock International_
1. _Fleet Solid Support ships_: Work started 3 December 2025 on RFA Fleet Solid Support build programme. Steel cutting ceremony at _Appledore shipyard, Devon_. Boost to British shipbuilding after Tory neglect.
2. _Type 31 frigates advancing_: Two of Royal Navy’s powerful new Type 31 frigates reached key milestones. Steel cut for HMS Bulldog and HMS Active ‘rolled out’ at _Rosyth, Scotland_, announced 24 February 2026. Tories left Navy “dangerous low” at 17 escorts.
3. _Bristol apprentices celebrated_: Defence apprentices celebrated for National Apprenticeship Week as defence team visited _Babcock International Bristol_ 13 February 2026 to witness future of defence manufacturing. Labour investing in next generation Tories failed to train.
_Drones UK Manufacturing Jobs_
4. _New drone factory Suffolk_: Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers open new factory in Suffolk 26 February 2026, creating _up to 500 British jobs_ and boosting economic security. Delivers SDR 2025 focus on uncrewed systems.
5. _£140m drone boost_: UK Defence Innovation launched 15 December 2025, investing over £140 million in drone and counter-drone technology in its first year. Shift from Tory cuts to modern warfare tech.
_Helicopters Mission Readiness - Boeing UK/Leonardo UK_
6. _£900m helicopter sustainment deal_: _1,200 UK jobs_ supported by nearly £900 million defence deal 15 April 2026 to keep military helicopters mission-ready. More than 1,000 jobs secured through new contract to sustain Army Apache RAF Chinook helicopters. Fixes Tory neglect of helicopter maintenance/backlog.
_Defence Boats British Jobs - Coastal Supply Chain_
7. _3,000 vessel support contracts_: Ministry of Defence signed contracts with five suppliers 25 March 2026 to provide support services for fleet of 3,000 smaller vessels used by Royal Navy, Army, RFA MOD Police. _Boost to British jobs and skills_ in coastal communities, fixing Tory neglect.
_Defence Innovation Regional Growth_
8. _£50m South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal_: New £50 million deal announced 13 April 2026 expanding cutting-edge defence research to help defence companies and boost skills in a region that already supports _3,200 defence jobs_. Labour investing outside London/SE after Tory regional neglect.
9. _National Wealth Fund_: £25m into Bristol firm Rowden = _100 new jobs_ building sensing systems for AUKUS submarines.
_Technical Skills Higher Education_
10. _19 Technical Excellence Colleges_: 19 new colleges announced 14 April 2026 to equip young people with high-level technical skills for well-paid, high-skilled defence jobs. Addresses Tory skills gap.
11. _24 universities £80m for 2,500 places_: 24 universities and colleges awarded investment 9 June 2026. £80 million for _2,500 UK student places_ so more young people can land key defence jobs. Funding builds brand new teaching facilities over next decade.
_Supply Chain Resilience Warfighting Readiness_
12. _Major wargame exercise_: UK tested defence supply chains under war conditions 29 April 2026. Five major defence companies war-gaming with MoD to test how UK supply chains hold up under sustained conflict. Findings directly shape defence policy, ensuring Armed Forces have equipment when needed. Addresses Tory supply chain fragility exposed by Ukraine war.