Strategic Defence Review 2025 The world has changed. The threats we now face are more serious and less predictable than at any time since the end of the Cold War. This Review sets out a vision to make Britain safer, secure at home and strong abroad. Contributions to the Review: - 8000 responses - 1700 contributions from individuals, political parties, and other organisations - 200 industry contributions - 150 experts in their fields A landmark shift in our deterrence and defence: - Move to warfighting readiness: With a more lethal ‘integrated force’ equipped for the future and strengthened homeland defence. - Engine for growth: Driving jobs and prosperity through a new partnership with industry, radical procurement reforms, and backing UK businesses. - ‘NATO first’: Stepping up on European security by leading in NATO, with strengthened nuclear, new tech, and updated conventional capabilities. - UK innovation driven by lessons from Ukraine: Harnessing drones, data, and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer. - Whole-of-society approach: Wider participation in national resilience and renewing the Nation’s contract with those who serve. Key Announcements The SDR is the Plan for Change for Defence. It sets out a new vision for UK Defence: Move to warfighting readiness: - ‘New Hybrid Navy’: Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarines, cutting-edge warships and support ships, transformed aircraft carriers, and new autonomous vessels. - 10x more lethal British Army: armoured capability, AI, software, long-range weapons, and land drone swarms—and aim to increase full-time troops to at least 76,000 into the next Parliament. - Next-generation RAF: F-35s, upgraded Typhoons, next-generation fast jets through GCAP, and autonomous fighters. - Sovereign warhead programme: £15bn this Parliament, supporting 9,000+ jobs. - Homeland air and missile defence: up to £1bn new funding. - New CyberEM Command: defending Britain from daily attacks in the grey zone. Engine for growth: - Munitions: £6bn this Parliament—including £1.5bn in an ‘always on’ pipeline and at least 6 new munitions and energetics factories in the UK, creating 1,000+ jobs. - Continuous submarine production: up to 12 conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines through the AUKUS programme. - UK Defence Innovation: £400m to invest in UK-based companies. - New Defence Exports Office: driving exports to our allies and growth at home. ‘NATO first’: - First European hybrid airwings: transforming our aircraft carriers, combining fast jets, long-range weapons, and drones. - First European laser directed energy weapon in service: through nearly £1bn of new funding. - Greater European deterrence: up to 7,000 new long-range weapons and supporting around 800 jobs in the UK. UK innovation driven by lessons from Ukraine: - World-leading innovation in autonomy: doubling investment in autonomous systems this Parliament to boost UK export potential. - New Digital Targeting Web in 2027: up to £1bn for the digital integration of our Armed Forces. - New ‘Drone Centre’: accelerating the use of autonomous systems across our Armed Forces. Whole-of-society approach: - Renewal of military accommodation: at least £7bn this Parliament, with £1.5bn+ new investment to fix forces family housing. - More opportunities for young people: delivering a 30% increase in cadets by 2030 and introducing a voluntary ‘Gap Year’ scheme. - Whole-of-society approach: a new UK Strategic Reserve by 2030 and the Navy taking a leading role in protecting undersea infrastructure. - New Defence Readiness Bill: legislating to improve national preparedness.