Strategic Defence Review 2025 – What It Means for Defence Suppliers and Manufacturers

• by Ellie Hurst
• Advent IM Blog General

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) published this week outlines the UK’s continued commitment to strengthening national security, enhancing technological capability, and improving military readiness in a rapidly evolving global landscape. It presents a forward-looking strategy that requires resilience, adaptability, and secure collaboration across the entire defence ecosystem – from major primes to SME suppliers.

Key points for defence contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers include:

Key Themes from the Review

Integrated Deterrence and Modernisation

The Ministry of Defence is investing in a truly integrated multi-domain force – cyber, space, maritime, land and air – underpinned by secure data and systems integration. There is a continued emphasis on digital transformation, operational autonomy, and information superiority.

Supply Chain Resilience

There is increased focus on identifying critical dependencies, strengthening the supply base, and reducing external reliance. This places a renewed emphasis on assurance, transparency, and risk management throughout all tiers of the supply chain.

Innovation and Digital Capabilities

The MOD is advancing its use of emerging technologies, including decision-support systems and digital modelling. This trend brings heightened attention to data security, governance, and adherence to recognised standards and regulatory frameworks.

Industrial Base Support

The review acknowledges the essential role of SMEs and local manufacturers in delivering operational advantage. To compete effectively, suppliers must demonstrate secure practices and alignment with MOD frameworks and security standards.

What This Means from a GRC and Security Perspective

Suppliers and manufacturers must now meet higher expectations around governance, risk management, and information assurance.

At Advent IM, we support defence sector partners in meeting these demands through:

• Security Governance & Assurance – Ensuring alignment with MOD security and compliance requirements from the outset
• Supply Chain Audits & Third-Party Risk Management – Helping organisations understand, assess, and address vulnerabilities within complex supply ecosystems
• Secure by Design & Accreditation Support – Building systems that meet MOD security standards such as JSP, NIST, and ISO27001
• Data Governance Advisory – Supporting secure data use and resilience as digital systems evolve
• Human Factor & Awareness Training – Strengthening organisational awareness against insider threats, social engineering, and information manipulation

In summary: the Strategic Defence Review sets out a framework that calls for practical changes from defence sector suppliers and manufacturers. Those who embed governance, demonstrate compliance, and integrate robust security will reduce risk and improve their readiness for the future.

If your organisation is preparing for new contracts, programme delivery or digital transformation, Advent IM can help ensure you are secure, resilient, and aligned with MOD expectations.

 Ellie Hurst – Commercial Director