UK Defense Spending on Long-Range Missiles to Surpass £400 Million

UK's Increased Defense Spending

LONDON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Britain's spending on long-range and hypersonic weapons will exceed 400 million pounds ($545 million) in the current financial year, the government said on Friday, highlighting joint missile development with France, Germany and Italy.

Importance of Long-Range Weapons

As European states work to reinforce their defences against Russia, defence minister John Healey will underline the key role long-range precision weapons have played in the war in Ukraine and the importance of joint missile programmes.

Government's Strategic Response

"To meet this new era of rising threats, we need hard power, strong alliances and sure diplomacy," Healey said in a statement on Friday.

* Britain plans to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDPfrom 2027 - the largest since the end of the Cold War - with alonger-term target of 5% by 2035.  * Britain says separate long-range missile programmes withGermany, and France and Italy both progressing. * Healey is expected to hold bilateral meetings with alliesat the Munich Security Conference.

($1 = 0.7345 pounds)

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James)