Cook Defence Systems has secured a landmark Ministry of Defence (MOD) contract worth up to £125 million, guaranteeing the supply of spare track systems for the British Army’s key combat vehicles and safeguarding 125 skilled jobs in County Durham.
The three-year agreement will ensure tracks are delivered for all of the Army’s principal vehicles, including the new Challenger 3 tanks, as well as sustaining investment in advanced manufacturing. Around £5 million will be channelled into new plant and machinery at the company’s Stanhope site, strengthening its role as a cornerstone of UK defence manufacturing.
Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said: “This contract not only strengthens our Army’s warfighting capability, but helps sustain hundreds of skilled jobs in the North East. It’s a clear example of the defence dividend – this Government’s historic increase in defence spending supporting high-skilled jobs across the UK, part of the Plan for Change.”
As the only British designer and manufacturer of track systems for fighting vehicles, Cook Defence Systems has become critical to the operational independence of the UK’s armed forces. Director William Cook commented: “This latest contract directly supports 125 jobs at Cook Defence Systems and underpins £5m of investment in new plant and machinery over the next twelve months. Our core relationship with the UK MOD is the foundation of our export success, with Cook Defence Systems currently supplying British allies in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.”
The company’s expertise dates back to 1940, and today its track systems are fitted to almost every armoured vehicle in the British Army, including Ajax, Warrior, Terrier, and Titan, as well as heavy-duty platforms such as Challenger 2 and international vehicles like Leopard 2 and Abrams. Tracks can be tailored for vehicles from 10 to over 50 tonnes, with proven durability through extensive rig and field testing.
Cook Defence Systems has also played a vital role in supporting Ukraine. Beyond producing spares for British-donated armoured fighting vehicles, it has supplied tracks for Soviet-era vehicles still relied upon by Ukrainian forces.
Part of the privately-owned William Cook group, the company also manufactures high-strength castings for ships, submarines, and fighting vehicles. Its sister firm, William Cook Cast Products, supports the Royal Navy with critical components for nuclear propulsion systems and naval vessels. Together, the group employs more than 600 people across five UK sites and generates annual revenues of around £60 million.
Chairman Sir Andrew Cook CBE summed up the ethos behind the group: “I am proud of William Cook. I built it up almost from scratch. To me the letters WC stand for ‘World Class’. I believe we are, and we can prove it to our customers.”
