据《金融时报》周五报道，英国国家财富基金计划投资总部位于伦敦的防务科技公司Uforce，该公司生产军用无人机和机器人。
The UK’s National Wealth Fund is planning to invest in Uforce, a London-based defence technology company that makes military drones and robots, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
《金融时报》未披露拟议投资的规模或条款，Uforce和该基金均未公开置评。
The FT did not disclose the size or terms of the proposed investment, and neither Uforce nor the fund has commented publicly.
Uforce由乌克兰人创立，将多家乌克兰防务制造商整合到一家公司旗下。其产品包括Magura海上无人艇、Nemesis攻击无人机、地面机器人以及反无人机系统。该公司此后已将总部迁至伦敦。
Founded by Ukrainians, Uforce brings together several Ukrainian defence manufacturers under one company. Its products include Magura sea drones, Nemesis strike drones, ground robots and counter-drone systems. The company has since moved its headquarters to London.
Uforce于今年3月以略高于10亿美元的估值融资5000万美元，跻身独角兽行列。六个月后，该公司正在洽谈以约50亿美元估值融资约5亿美元，该轮融资由Valor Equity Partners领投。
Uforce reached unicorn status in March after raising $50m at a valuation of just over $1bn. Six months later, the company was in talks to raise around $500m at a valuation of about $5bn, in a round led by Valor Equity Partners.
上述投资消息传出之际，英国政府正加大对防务产业的支持力度。在周三的预算案中，财政大臣约翰·希利向国家财富基金额外拨付了154亿英镑资本。
The reported investment comes as the UK government steps up its support for the defence industry. In Wednesday’s Budget, Chancellor John Healey allocated an additional £15.4bn in capital to the National Wealth Fund.
在致该基金的一封信中，希利呼吁更加聚焦防务、关键矿产和人工智能。他将防务产业描述为政府国家复兴计划的核心。
In a letter to the fund, Healey called for a stronger focus on defence, critical minerals and AI. He described the defence industry as central to the government’s plans for national renewal.
该基金和英国商业银行还将在四年内提供最多50亿英镑，用于防务和国家安全，包括兼具民用和军用用途的两用技术。
The fund and the British Business Bank will also make up to £5bn available over four years for defence and national security, including dual-use technologies that have both civilian and military applications.
有迹象表明，私人投资者也在更加密切地关注该行业。9月，律师事务所White & Case就投资计划调查了英国防务行业的250位高层人士。
There are signs that private investors are also looking more closely at the sector. In September, law firm White & Case surveyed 250 senior figures in the UK defence industry about their investment plans.
调查结果显示，97%的受访者预计在未来一年从外部投资者那里筹集大量资金。
Its findings showed that 97% expected to raise significant amounts of money from external investors over the following year.
“英国已经拥有一些全球最优秀的国防科技初创企业，而伟凯律师事务所最近的研究发现，在接受调查的英国国防及国防科技公司中，97%可能在接下来12个月内筹集大量外部资金以加速增长。
“The UK is already home to some of the world’s best defence technology start-ups, and recent White & Case research found that 97% of UK defence and defence technology companies surveyed are likely to raise significant external funding to accelerate growth over the next 12 months.
“这笔投资为寻求融资的企业增添了更多动力，并巩固了英国作为国防科技投资领先目的地的地位，”伟凯律师事务所私募股权集团合伙人汤姆·克拉克向我们评论道。
“This investment adds further momentum for firms looking to raise funds and reinforces the UK’s position as a leading destination for defence technology investment,” commented to us Tom Clarke, Partner in the Private Equity Group at White & Case.