Long-delayed defence spending plan to be published on Tuesday, with focus on drone warfare
BBC News 2026-06-29 21:30:01
Context: The UK government is set to publish a long-delayed defence spending plan on Tuesday, which includes a £5bn investment in drones and autonomous weapons. The plan, known as the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), has been months in the making and has seen tense negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury over funding. The publication of the plan comes ahead of the Nato leaders summit in Turkey on July 7.
Key Facts
- The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) includes a £5bn investment to increase the Armed Forces' use of drones and autonomous weapons, with the goal of keeping Britain "safe and secure long into the future".
- The plan was initially expected to be published in autumn 2025 but has been delayed for around nine months, with tense Whitehall negotiations over funding contributing to the delay.
- The Ministry of Defence had requested £28bn in funding, but the Treasury and No 10 agreed on a £13.5bn increase, which was criticised by some as "too little, too late" and "dangerously short-changed" for the Armed Forces.
- The DIP will also outline how new equipment and defence infrastructure will be funded over the coming decade, including plans to replace ageing warships with at least six new modern "hybrid" vessels equipped to deploy drones.
- The plan has been influenced by lessons from Ukraine and Iran, with Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis saying that "the character of warfare is rapidly changing" and that uncrewed systems are defining conflicts.