Minister: Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war

The UK government has announced a sweeping overhaul of its defence strategy, pledging billions of pounds to prepare the nation for a "war-fighting" footing in response to increasing threats from global powers like Russia and China.

Defence Secretary John Healey revealed the government’s approval of all 62 recommendations from a long-anticipated Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which includes plans to build 12 nuclear-powered submarines, construct six munitions factories, and invest heavily in cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.

Healey told MPs that the UK Army must become "10 times more lethal" to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global threat landscape. “We are entering a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK defence,” he said.

The SDR, led by former Labour Defence Secretary Lord Robertson, painted a stark picture of the current state of the UK's armed forces. The report concluded that the military is not equipped to confront modern adversaries such as Russia and China due to insufficient weapons stockpiles, weak recruitment, and declining morale.

The review warned that Britain is already facing daily cyber attacks targeting its critical infrastructure, threatening both the economy and national cohesion. Russia, it said, remains an "immediate and pressing threat," citing the invasion of Ukraine as evidence of its aggressive ambitions. Meanwhile, China was described as a "persistent and sophisticated challenge," with growing capabilities in espionage and cyber warfare and expected to possess 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.

In response, the Ministry of Defence will pivot to future warfare technologies, including AI, robotics, lasers, and faster intelligence delivery systems.

Key Measures Announced in the SDR:

• 12 New Attack Submarines: Including next-generation Aukus submarines as part of a “hybrid navy.”

• £15 Billion for New Nuclear Warheads

• £1.5 Billion for Six Munitions Factories: Ensuring constant production capacity.

• Up to 7,000 Long-Range Weapons: Including missiles and drones built in the UK.

• New Cyber and Electromagnetic Command: To strengthen digital defence and offence.

• £1 Billion Investment in Faster Targeting Technology

• £1.5 Billion to Repair Military Housing by 2029

• Army Expansion: Increasing full-time soldiers from 74,400 to 76,000.

• Cadet Force Growth: A 30% expansion and a “gap year” program for young volunteers.

The strategy assumes a gradual increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027—up from the current 2.3%. However, the most ambitious goals, like building a dozen submarines, may require raising defence spending to 3% of GDP. Ministers say they aim to hit that level by 2034 at the latest.

Despite the ambitious plans, Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge criticised the review as an "underfunded" and "underwhelming" wish list. He said that without clear funding, the proposals amounted to little more than fantasy.

"The ships and submarines it talks of are a fantasy fleet,” he remarked. “After so much hype, the SDR is a damp squib. Our armed forces deserve better than this."

In contrast, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer defended the review, saying it would lead to a "battle-ready, armour-clad" Britain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also backed the changes, saying: “When directly threatened by advanced militaries, the best deterrent is to show that we are ready to deliver peace through strength.”