GM Defence UK Launches to Support UK Defence Priorities
GM Defence has launched GM Defence UK and created a dedicated presence to support the UK’s defence priorities and strengthen sovereign capability.
GM Defence UK will operate from GM’s sites in Leamington Spa and Silverstone. The new entity will lead all UK Ministry of Defence engagement and anchor GM’s wider NATO and European defence activity. It will also boost the UK industry and strengthen export potential.
GM Defence has stepped up delivery and support planning for Team LionStrike as it prepares to bid for the UK’s upcoming Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme.
“Standing up GM Defence UK is a major milestone in our long-term commitment to the United Kingdom,” said Bradley Watters, vice president of international business development. “Team LionStrike is different because GM—backed by more than a century of engineering excellence—is directly embedded as the vehicle OEM. That level of involvement delivers real capability, efficiency and long-term assurance for the UK Armed Forces. Establishing a UK business is essential to providing that through-life support.”
The announcement aligns with the International Armoured Vehicles conference and follows the UK MoD’s recent LMV Industry Day. It builds on strong momentum for Team LionStrike over the past year, including the debut of GM Defence’s General Support Utility Platform (GSUP) at DSEI and a UK Ride & Drive event that showcased four proven Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) light and utility vehicles.
Team LionStrike brings together GM Defence, NP Aerospace, BAE Systems, and multiple UK-based subject-matter experts. The team aims to deliver a modern, scalable mobility solution for the British Army while supporting the Land Industrial Strategy. It is building a sustainable UK supply chain backed by GM’s global parts distribution network, the new UK hub, and the experience that NP Aerospace and BAE Systems bring to sustaining the UK Military.
“We are fully committed to the UK LMV programme and to investing in British industry and communities. GM Defence UK strengthens our ability to fully support Team LionStrike and deliver exactly what the British Army needs—now and for decades to come,” Watters added.
GM Defence drives the future of military mobility by leveraging General Motors' best-in-class capabilities for unmatched innovation, proven performance, and breakthrough life-cycle economics.
Team LionStrike (GM Defence, BAE Systems, and NP Aerospace) provides low-risk solutions for the UK Land Mobility Programme. The team offers high-capability, proven Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) platforms and leverages GM’s vast industrial scale to guarantee immediate readiness and cost efficiency. This strategy secures sustained operational advantage for the British Armed Forces and guarantees in-country assembly and vital UK industrial benefits.