Panattoni, the world's largest privately owned developer of industrial real estate, welcomed the Secretary of State for Defence, Dan Jarvis MBE MP, to Panattoni Park Swindon on Friday 12 June for the opening of NATO’s largest indoor drone testing facility in Europe.
The invitation-only event brought together more than 40 leading defence businesses and suppliers, alongside representatives from government and the armed forces, to showcase the next generation of defence technologies, autonomous capabilities and uncrewed systems that will play a critical role in strengthening NATO’s future defence capabilities.
Held at Panattoni Park Swindon, the exclusive event featured demonstrations and exhibits from some of the defence sector’s most innovative companies, including Flyby Technology and Tekever, highlighting the growing importance of the UK as a centre for defence innovation, advanced manufacturing and uncrewed systems development.
The launch follows the completion of a major lease agreement between Panattoni and the Ministry of Defence at Panattoni Park Swindon, one of the UK's largest brownfield regeneration projects. The MOD has leased over half a million sq ft of space, representing one of the most significant defence-related occupational transactions in the UK.
During the event, Matthew Byrom, Managing Partner at Panattoni and James Watson, Head of Development at Panattoni, formally handed the state-of-the-art new facility to the Secretary of State for Defence, Dan Jarvis MBE MP.
Brigadier Stu Nasse OBE, Head of the UK Drone Coalition, said: “This landmark project represents the importance of public-private collaboration in delivering critical infrastructure for the UK’s defence sector”.
James Watson, Head of Development, Southern England & London at Panattoni, said: "This is a real phoenix-from-the-ashes story. A site that once played its part in supporting Britain’s wartime manufacturing efforts in WWII will now help shape the future of defence technology and innovation. We look forward to welcoming and continuing conversations with organisations and further defence-related occupiers seeking world-class facilities to support their growth. Today, Swindon is increasingly emerging as a centre for defence, advanced manufacturing, autonomy, and technology-led businesses. The site's strategic location, connectivity, skilled workforce, and proximity to key defence assets have helped establish the foundations of a growing cluster that is attracting investment from across the defence and technology sectors. It was great to work with key stakeholders including Will Stone MP, Swindon Borough Council and Ministry of Defence.”
Speaking at the event, Dan Jarvis, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced: "The character of warfare is changing, and it is changing fast. From Ukraine to the Middle East, we are seeing right now how uncrewed systems are rapidly evolving and reshaping conflicts – on land, in the air and at sea. Our new DroneTEX facility at the heart of our Uncrewed Systems Centre is Europe's largest drone test and development facility, and will help us ensure the UK embraces technologies that are redefining warfare."
Panattoni has transformed the former Honda Manufacturing Plant into a nationally significant development hub with a commitment of over £900m into land and infrastructure. Once complete, the project will provide more than 7 million sq ft of industrial, logistics, manufacturing, technology, and defence accommodation, creating one of the UK's most important centres for business growth and job creation.
Panattoni Park Swindon offers 920,000 sq ft of immediately available space, making it the largest speculative warehouse ever built in the UK. A further 1.2 million sq ft is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in Q2 2027.
