LONDON – The United Kingdom today, Monday, June 2nd, 2025, unveiled its most significant defence overhaul since the end of the Cold War, committing to a substantial increase in military spending, a major expansion of its naval capabilities, and a renewed focus on “warfighting readiness” in response to escalating global threats. The sweeping announcements come as part of a highly anticipated Strategic Defence Review, led by former NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson and commissioned by the Labour government.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the plans are designed to send an unambiguous “message to Moscow” and to bolster the UK’s industrial base. “This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required,” Healey told the BBC on Sunday.
A cornerstone of the new strategy is the commitment to build up to 12 new conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN-AUKUS class), which will gradually replace the current seven-strong Astute class from the late 2030s onwards. This move signals a significant expansion of the UK’s undersea warfare capabilities and underscores its commitment to the AUKUS security pact with the United States and Australia. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also confirmed a £15 billion investment into the UK’s nuclear warhead programme, reinforcing the nation’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.
Beyond naval power, the review outlines a robust plan to revitalize the UK’s defence industry and ensure an “always-on” munitions production capacity:
- New Munitions Factories: The government will invest £1.5 billion to establish at least six new munitions and energetics factories across the UK. This aims to ramp up domestic production of critical components for weapons, creating over 1,000 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
- Long-Range Weapons Procurement: Up to 7,000 new UK-built long-range weapons, including missiles and drones, will be procured for the Armed Forces, with a total munitions spending expected to hit £6 billion this Parliamentary term.
- Cyber Defence: A new “Cyber and Electromagnetic Command” will be established to enhance the military’s defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspace, recognizing the increasing threat of state-linked cyberattacks, which Healey noted are occurring daily against the UK.
- Technological Investment: An additional £1 billion will be allocated to accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge battlefield technology, including AI and advanced digital capabilities.
The increased spending targets include reaching 2.5% of national income (GDP) on defence by 2027, a commitment first made by Prime Minister Starmer in February 2025. The government has also expressed an ambition to further increase this to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament, potentially by 2034, though the exact timeline for the latter has drawn some political debate.
The Strategic Defence Review, comprising 62 recommendations, directly responds to the dramatically changed geopolitical landscape following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It emphasizes a need for the armed forces to move to “war-fighting readiness” as the most effective way to deter aggressors. While Russia is identified as an “immediate and pressing” danger, the review also highlights China, Iran, and North Korea as forming a “deadly quartet” of increasingly cooperative threats.
Labour’s Defence Secretary John Healey visited a Storm Shadow missile assembly factory on Saturday, June 1st, 2025, to highlight the commitment to domestic production and job creation across the UK. The government also pledged an extra £1.5 billion by 2029 to fund repairs to military housing, acknowledging the importance of personnel welfare.
While opposition parties, including the Conservatives, have welcomed the boost in defence spending, some have called for a more ambitious timeline to reach the 3% GDP target. Nevertheless, the broad consensus across the political spectrum signals a profound shift in the UK’s defence posture, prioritizing readiness and industrial resilience in an era of heightened global instability.
