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Factbox-What's in Britain's Strategic Defence Review?
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Posted on June 1, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 1, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBritain's Strategic Defence Review outlines investments in submarines, AI, and cyber operations to address national security threats.
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain will on Monday publish the results of a 10-month review into the country's defence capabilities, which is expected to set out the growing threats it faces and where ministers must invest to improve national security.
Below is what the government has already announced in the days preceding the Strategic Defence Review:
ATTACK SUBMARINES - No cost given
The government said it would increase the size of its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet to as many as 12, up from the current seven. The new generation of attack submarines will be a model jointly developed by the UK, U.S. and Australia under the security partnership known as AUKUS.
NUCLEAR WARHEAD REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME - 15 billion pounds
The government has for the first time put a price tag on a pre-existing national programme to develop a new nuclear warhead to replace the current model: 15 billion pounds ($20.2 billion).
MUNITIONS FACTORIES - 1.5 billion pounds
Britain will build at least six new factories producing weapons and explosives, forming part of an "always-on" approach for the manufacture of priority munitions.
BATTLEFIELD AI - more than 1 billion pounds
A new "Digital Targeting Web" will help connect weapon systems and harness artificial intelligence to improve identifying and eliminating battlefield targets, the government said.
CYBER AND ELECTROMAGNETIC COMMAND
Britain will establish a new unit to lead its defensive cyber operations and help coordinate offensive cyber capabilities. It will also cover advanced signal jamming and other means of disrupting communications.
ARMED FORCES HOUSING - 1.5 billion pounds
The government has pledged to improve the poor state of housing for the country's armed forces, seeking to help recruitment, retention and morale.
($1 = 0.7430 pounds)
(Reporting by William James; Editing by David Holmes)
The review is expected to outline the growing threats Britain faces and the government's plans to address them.
Britain plans to increase its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet to as many as 12, up from the current seven.
The government has announced a budget of 15 billion pounds ($20.2 billion) for the new nuclear warhead replacement programme.
A new 'Digital Targeting Web' will connect weapon systems and utilize artificial intelligence to enhance the identification and elimination of battlefield targets.
The government has pledged 1.5 billion pounds to improve the poor state of housing for the armed forces, aiming to enhance recruitment, retention, and morale.
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