Defence

The Strategic Defence Review highlighted the importance of space as a domain central to modern warfighting and Cornwall’s aerospace sector already holds assets of national significance. Goonhilly Earth Station, Spaceport Cornwall and the National Drone Hub ensure the UK has available drone testing sites, horizontal space launch capabilities, satellite communications services and Space Domain Awareness data. With greater uncertainty regarding assured access to Allied capabilities, Cornwall provides domestic access to key requirements.

Stretching into the Atlantic, Cornwall has a long and proud maritime history. Coastal and offshore environments here are ideal for testing naval and autonomous systems and Cornwall’s marine sector underpins manufacturing, clean energy and the defence sector. Cornwall has the potential to play a continued role in maintaining and upgrading existing fleets, with both A&P in Falmouth and Penzance Dry Dock already fulfilling contracts for the Ministry of Defence. There is a strategic collaborative opportunity for Cornwall following significant investment into Devonport, in particular supply chain opportunities for advanced marine and manufacturing.

The granite intrusion that underlies Cornwall contains Europe’s largest lithium resource, some of the work’s richest tin deposits and one of the world’s largest undeveloped tungsten deposits.

Concerns about the availability of critical minerals affect the energy transition and are also fundamental for defence, acting as the foundation for many military hardware and technologies.

Cornwall’s valuable minerals, if extracted, will allow the UK to reduce its reliance on politically unstable global supply chains whilst creating a productive and well-paid source of employment. Cornwall has a long and successful history of mining over the last four thousand years, and today it is thriving once again.