Page 42 - Five Forces of Americanisation Richard Hooke 04072025 final post SDR1

The UK Defence Industry in the 21 Century
st
The Five Forces of Americanisation

factory in Edinburgh to manufacture Gyro Gun Sights for aircraft. Built in only 111 days especially for
Ferranti, the factory was paid for by the Government with Ferranti buying back the site by a process of
converting rent into payments. The factory established Ferranti in Scotland and signalled the company's
move into the Defence market. Ferranti expanded its operations in Scotland soon after the War,
increasing the number of factories based in Edinburgh and founding other sites in Dalkeith and Aberdeen.
The group concentrated on producing electronic systems with military applications, but also produced
industrial laser systems, fuel dispensing systems (for petrol stations) and 'offshore' technologies.
“1987 Ferranti plc merges with the American based company The International Signal & Control Group,
the new company becoming Ferranti International PLC
“1989 Discovery of the ISC fraud. Ferranti is defrauded of approx. £215 million on non-existent contacts
and incorrect valuations
“As its name suggests the Defence Systems Group manufactured the military systems which were
formerly made by the Scottish Group, including Radar Systems, Navigation Systems, Display Systems and
Electro-Optic Systems. After the discovery of the fraud in 1989 the Defence Systems Group was sold to
GEC as a subsidiary of GEC-Marconi in 1990.
“1994 Ferranti goes into final receivership in January after selling many of its divisions in an attempt to
save itself. The company is effectively ended”
(The (UK) National Archives, April, 2026)

42
07/07/2025 Richard Hooke 2025