Harrogate-based defence manufacturer Armexis has secured its first orders, worth a combined £17.5 million, to deliver four tracked armoured vehicles destined for Ukraine.

The contract specifies the initial production of the company’s APC(T)11 (Armoured Personnel Carrier Tracked) and IFV(T)44 (Infantry Fighting Vehicle Tracked) platforms. Engineering specifications are currently being finalised at the North Yorkshire site, with physical delivery scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.

The agreement marks the transition into operational delivery for the startup, which designs and builds tracked military platforms independently within the UK. The firm relies on a 76 per cent domestic supply chain and employs personnel across heavy industrial disciplines, including design engineering, fabrication, and mechanical assembly.

The order comes amid heightened procurement activity across the European continent following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, with Western defense firms scaling up production capacities to meet near-term battlefield requirements.

Richard Matthews, Group CEO of ARMEXIS, explained: “This is an extremely significant step in our operational development. As the political debate rages about the UK’s defence capabilities in a volatile world, we are the only company delivering cost-effective, rapidly deployable platforms for modern war zones.

“We are especially proud that our first armoured vehicles are going to Ukraine, which continues to defend its sovereignty and sets an example of heroism and resilience. We are confident that our products will play a significant and highly effective role on the battlefield, and we hope they will ultimately save lives with their high levels of protection.

“Our focus is on providing reliable, mission-ready platforms that enhance protection and operational effectiveness in challenging environments.

“We are creating a new and disruptive model for defence manufacturing. At a time of increasing geo-political instability and accelerating defence demand, we are addressing a critical capability gap by meeting faster development and delivery timelines and creating lean, cost-competitive and scalable manufacturing systems.

“Crucially, as the focus sharpens on defence procurement, we are incredibly proud of our ability to respond swiftly to evolving operational requirements. This is because our model challenges traditional long-cycle procurement approaches by focusing on delivery speed, efficiency and operational relevance.”

“We are also proud that our growth is supporting the preservation and expansion of traditional British engineering and manufacturing skills. By investing in these roles, ARMEXIS is helping to sustain high-value industrial capability within the UK, while creating long-term skilled employment opportunities.”