Strengthening UK Defence Through Collaboration: Our Role as an SME

A Growing Defence Budget & Opportunities for SMEs

The UK is entering a pivotal phase in its defence strategy, with a significant investment boost aimed at enhancing national security. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, adding £6 billion annually to address evolving global challenges. This represents the biggest sustained increase in defence investment since the Cold War, reflecting a renewed focus on strengthening national security, and reinforcing the UK’s role within the broader European defence alliance.

This investment supports the development of key defence capabilities and presents opportunities for UK manufacturers to contribute to a more resilient and innovative supply chain. As the government looks to improve procurement processes and expand access for SMEs, there is a growing role for specialist technology providers to support the industry with reliable, high-performance solutions.

Our Universal Approach: A Reliable British Partner

Universal Networks are a UK based company specialising in fibre optic cabling solutions designed for harsh environments. With 30 years of expertise, we design and manufacture rugged, agile, deployable fibre solutions that provide reliable connectivity for mission-critical operations across Defence, Aerospace, Maritime and other sectors.

Our Universal Approach combines technical expertise with a wide range of products from key brands, allowing us to tailor solutions to meet the unique challenges of each client. With in-house production capabilities, we take pride in delivering high-performance solutions with efficiency and precision. Backed by our JOSCAR accreditation and Cyber Essentials, ISO9001, and ISO14001 certifications, we maintain high standards of security, transparency, and environmental responsibility in everything we do.

Built to Endure: Dependable Fibre Solutions for Harsh Environments

With extensive experience working with leading defence organisations, including Dstl, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and QinetiQ, we understand the unique challenges and performance expectations of an ever-evolving defence sector. At the core of every requirement is the need for resilient, agile, high-performance solutions that can survive the most punishing conditions.

Our focus on responsiveness, reliability and collaboration ensures we deliver tailored solutions that help our clients confidently operate in the most challenging environments.

As the UK reinforces its defence capabilities, Universal Networks remains committed to delivering expertise and reliable solutions to support industry requirements.

Want to learn more about how we can assist with your defence initiatives? Explore our Military and Defence solutions, and let’s work together to strengthen future connectivity and infrastructure.

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