UK lays out defence plan with drones, self-flying fighter jets, no-crew submarines
While PM Keir Starmer says ‘cutting-edge capabilities’ will help to deter threats, some say the rising defence budget should be even higher
Self-flying fighter jets, uncrewed submarines and drones will be at the centre of Britain’s future military under a defence plan announced on Tuesday that reflects a world of conflicts transformed by technology.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would spend almost £300 billion (US$397 billion) over the next four years to modernise its armed forces amid rising threats.
Starmer, expected to leave office next month after losing the support of Labour MPs, announced an increase in defence spending as he launched his long-awaited 10-year Defence Investment Plan.
The plan prioritises £5 billion (US$6.6 billion) of investment in drones and a focus on autonomous systems to try to modernise and build up its depleted armed forces at a time of rising threats.
The plan has been repeatedly delayed as military leaders and Treasury officials wrangled over the cost of equipping the nation’s military for an increasingly dangerous world.
Like other Nato countries, the UK is under pressure to increase defence spending to counter a more aggressive Russia and less reliable United States.