UK's Defense Strategy: Replenishing Stockpiles and Boosting Research for New Weapons
The UK defense ministry plans to increase spending by £2.5 billion ($3.3 billion USD) to replenish weapons stockpiles and establish a global response force, according to a new plan aimed at improving warfighting readiness. The plan includes rebuilding munitions numbers after years of underinvestment, delivering ammunition and missiles to Ukraine. The ministry has already started rebuilding stockpiles, with BAE Systems securing a deal to supply up to £400 million worth of munitions. The plan also emphasizes investment in the resilience and readiness of munitions infrastructure and includes increases in research and defense spending, changes to the ministry's relationship with industry, and increased investment in AI-enabled military capability. Outgoing defense secretary Ben Wallace stated that the plan will ensure the UK remains a leading power in NATO.