Drones have revolutionised(彻底改变了) battlefields. Many hope they can now transform an ailing(状况不佳的，衰落的) British town. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans a drone-testing site, the size of eight football pitches, in Swindon, 130km west of London. During the second world war the site turned out(生产出，制造出) Spitfires(喷火式战斗机) that roared(轰鸣着，发出巨响) the allies to victory. Quieter machines are meant to lift the town’s fortunes and Britain’s military strength once more.
无人机已经彻底改变了战场。许多人希望它们现在能改变一个陷入困境的英国小镇。英国国防部计划在伦敦以西130公里的斯温顿建设一个相当于八个足球场大小的无人机测试场。二战期间，该地点生产的喷火式战斗机轰鸣着帮助盟军取得胜利。如今，更安静的机器旨在再次提升这座小镇的财富和英国的军事实力。
Armies across the world are scrambling(争相，仓促行动) to mesh(整合，使紧密结合) uncrewed(无人驾驶的) drones with crewed jets, ships and infantry. Britain’s “Strategic Defence Review” promised to build such systems at scale, at pace and, crucially, at home(大规模、快速且在国内). The MoD has in theory committed(承诺投入（资金）) £4bn ($5.3bn) to drone innovation.
世界各国的军队都在争相将无人驾驶无人机与有人驾驶飞机、舰艇和步兵整合。英国的“战略防御评估”承诺要大规模、快速、且关键的是在国内建造这类系统。国防部理论上已承诺投入40亿英镑（53亿美元）用于无人机创新。
Around Plymouth, in the south-west, a cottage industry(家庭作坊式产业，小型产业) for maritime drones is drawing on(利用，借鉴) the town’s naval heritage(遗产，传统). In the West Midlands BAE Systems, a large defence firm, makes high-end kits. Leonardo, an Italian defence giant, is building autonomous helicopters in the south-west around Yeovil. Along the Welsh coast, a drone-testing facility has popped up(突然出现，涌现). What Britain lacks is a mass-production hub(大规模生产中心) and a cluster where scientists, generals, entrepreneurs and defence types can interact, says Mark Westwood(克兰菲尔德大学的马克·韦斯特伍德) of Cranfield University. Enter Swindon(斯温顿登场（引出话题）).
在西南部的普利茅斯附近，一个海上无人机的家庭作坊式产业正在利用该镇的海军传统。在西米德兰兹，大型国防公司BAE系统公司制造高端组件。意大利国防巨头莱昂纳多正在约维尔附近的西南部建造自主直升机。沿着威尔士海岸，一个无人机测试设施突然出现。克兰菲尔德大学的马克·韦斯特伍德表示，英国缺少的是一个大规模生产中心和一个能让科学家、将军、企业家和国防人员互动的产业集群。斯温顿登场了。