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09
Jul
'Disruptive' Harrogate firm wins £17.5m deal to make armoured vehicles for Ukraine
A "disruptive" defence manufacturer based in Harrogate has won a £17.5 million contract to make four armoured vehicles for Ukraine.
Armexis, which is based near the Army Foundation College Harrogate, is the UK's only independent tracked armoured vehicle designer and manufacturer.
It is currently finalising the detailed specifications of its APC(T)11 (Armoured Personnel Carrier Tracked) and IFV(T)44 (Infantry Fighting Vehicle Tracked) in preparation for delivery in the second quarter of 2027.
The orders – the company's first – mark a significant milestone for the defence manufacturer as it moves into operational delivery and accelerates plans to expand its production capability.
Richard Matthews, group chief executive of Armexis, said:
As the political debate rages about the UK’s defence capabilities in a volatile world, we are the only company delivering cost-effective, rapidly deployable platforms for modern war zones.
We are especially proud that our first armoured vehicles are going to Ukraine, which continues to defend its sovereignty and sets an example of heroism and resilience. We are confident that our products will play a significant and highly effective role on the battlefield, and we hope they will ultimately save lives with their high levels of protection.
Our focus is on providing reliable, mission-ready platforms that enhance protection and operational effectiveness in challenging environments.
We are creating a new and disruptive model for defence manufacturing. At a time of increasing geo-political instability and accelerating defence demand, we are addressing a critical capability gap by meeting faster development and delivery timelines and creating lean, cost-competitive and scalable manufacturing systems.
Armexis employs people across a range of disciplines, including design engineering, fabrication and welding, and mechanical engineering, which the company says helps to preserve traditional British engineering and manufacturing capability and provide long-term skilled jobs in the area.
More than three quarters (76%) of Armexis's supply chain is UK-based, and the company is looking to increase this propotion.
Mr Matthews, who spent more than 14 years in the British army, said that Armexis vehicles are designed with a clear mission: to deliver "protective capability that enhance survivability and support personnel operating in high-risk environments".
He added:
We are incredibly focused on quality, reliability and ethical responsibility, ensuring that systems are developed with both operational effectiveness and end-user safety in mind.
Looking ahead, with initial orders secured and a growing pipeline, Armexis is entering a pivotal phase of execution. The company’s focus over the next six months will be on delivering operational platforms, scaling production capability, Strengthening its position within the global defence market.
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