Rishi Sunak has pledged the largest defense boost in a generation, allocating £75 billion over the next six years to place the UK on a “war footing.” Former top military officials expressed their insights on the critical areas that require attention to build a strong defense against potential threats like Russia.
As Sunak traveled to Poland for security talks with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, he unveiled his plan to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. This will elevate the annual armed forces budget to £87 billion by the end of the decade, representing a £23 billion increase compared to the current allocation. Sunak hailed it as the “biggest strengthening of national defense in a generation” to counter the growing threats posed by Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea.
“As our adversaries align, we must do more to defend our country,” Sunak emphasized, adding that this marked a “turning point for European security and a landmark moment in the defense of the United Kingdom.” Sunak also announced Britain’s largest-ever tranche of military aid to Ukraine, amounting to £500 million, while cautioning that Vladimir Putin’s ambitions may not be confined to Ukraine’s borders.
The focus now shifts to how the remaining £75 billion will be utilized to bolster Britain’s defenses. Divided across the British Army, Navy, and Air Force, three senior defense figures stressed the urgent need to restore the armed forces to a “war fighting capability.” They asserted that the new defense budget could not have come sooner.
General Sir Richard Barrons, former Joint Forces chief, emphasized the importance of adapting the UK’s military to the evolving landscape of warfare. He advocated for investments in drone fleets, autonomous fighter jets, and a doubling of the UK’s reserve army. “We must recognize how strapped defense is right now,” Barrons explained. “Some of this new money is about catching up and paying for equipment already ordered, while some will be directed towards the nuclear program.”
Barrons further highlighted the need to bolster defenses against air and missile attacks, drawing attention to Russia’s tactics in Kyiv. He proposed a £4 billion investment in industry and reserves to address this critical vulnerability. Regarding the British Army, Barrons stressed the importance of providing a “digital backbone” to the force. “The army must be restored to a war fighting capability at a reasonable size,” he said. “This doesn’t mean more people, but rather equipment, ammunition, training, logistics, and doubling the size of our reserve force.”
Barrons also noted the outdated equipment currently utilized by the army, emphasizing the need for urgent upgrades. While acknowledging the potential significance of Challenger 3 tanks, Barrons emphasized the greater importance of long-range precision fires, citing the PrSM program and the need to outnumber Russia’s artillery capabilities in Ukraine.
Admiral Lord West commended the new defense budget but expressed his belief that it could have been implemented sooner. He emphasized the UK’s ability to assert a strong position at the next NATO summit in July, showcasing its commitment and pressuring countries that fall short of the 2% defense spending target. Lord West advocated for the allocation of funds towards updating the UK’s nuclear deterrence and the continuation of the Dreadnought program for developing new ballistic missile submarines.
General Sir Richard Shirreff, former deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, expressed his view that the new package, while desperately needed, has come “too late.” He suggested that the UK should have transitioned to a war footing two years ago and highlighted the urgent need for increased support to Ukraine. Shirreff emphasized the need to expand the regular army back to its 2010 strength of 100,000 troops and warned of the potential consequences if Russia forces Ukraine into defeat, including the threat of further aggression towards Moldova, Georgia, the Baltic states, and eastern Poland.
