The UK’s defence review will focus on deterring growing Russian aggression and send a “message to Moscow”, according to Defence Secretary John Healey. The report, set to be unveiled on Monday, will conclude that the UK faces a new era of threat posed by Russia and other countries, including China.
The review will commit £1.5bn to build six new factories to produce munitions, aiming to revive Britain’s industrial base. This investment will increase UK munitions spending to £6bn during this parliament and create 1,800 new jobs.
The government aims to strengthen the armed forces by procuring long-range weapons, including drones and missiles, over several years. The review also addresses cyber-attacks from Russia, with Healey warning that these attacks occur “every day” on UK military networks.
To address the threat, the government plans to build a new “cyber and electromagnetic command” to lead defensive operations. However, Defence spending targets remain under discussion, with the Labour party seeking to increase funding to 3% of GDP by 2034.
The review comes as Russia’s actions in Ukraine highlight deficiencies in Western production capabilities. Senior military officers have warned about depleted stockpiles, with some calling for increased investment in weapons production.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq69vqpp2l4o