Draken breaks ground on new £7m hangar at Teesside Airport
Teesside International Airport has confirmed that Draken UK has broken ground on a new £7m hangar facility, marking a major expansion of its UK base at Teesside. The new structure, named Hangar 362, will support Draken’s fleet of advanced combat aircraft — including the L 159E “Honey Badger” jets — used for training and readiness exercises over the North Sea.
image: Teesside International Airport
According to the airport, Hangar 362 will strengthen the infrastructure required for Draken’s contracts with the Ministry of Defence.
“This investment is a strategic step forward for Draken in the UK,” said Simon Tate, Draken’s UK Managing Director. “Hangar 362 will not only expand our operational capacity at Teesside but also create high quality jobs and support critical training contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence. It’s a testament to our continued commitment to innovation, agility, and excellence in defence aviation.”
The project is being built by local contractor S&A Fabrications. Managing director, Simon Pelly said, “The new hangar represents real progress — not just for our client, but for the region as a whole — creating opportunities and contributing to the growth of the UK’s defence capabilities, professionalism and excellence.”
Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, said, “Draken is a key partner for our airport and our region, and it’s fantastic to see them doubling down on Teesside Airport as the place to invest and grow. This new hangar is another big step forward for Teesside, and will see our airport play an even bigger part in training our Armed Forces to keep the UK safe and secure, while also creating opportunities for local firms and delivering more good quality jobs for local people.”
Phil Forster, Managing Director of Teesside International Airport, said, “We’re incredibly proud to see Draken continue to invest in Teesside with the construction of this new hangar; an outstanding addition to our airport. This development not only reinforces our airport’s position as a leading base for aviation innovation and defence support but also creates skilled jobs and long-term opportunities for the region.”
Construction of Hangar 362 is scheduled for completion in November 2026. The development is the latest step in a broader programme of investment and infrastructure expansion at Teesside Airport, as the site continues to build its profile as an aviation, maintenance and defence hub.