The UK is sharply accelerating its military modernisation, committing more than £400 million this financial year to the development of long-range precision and
hypersonic weapons in partnership with key European allies.
The investment marks a significant expansion of defence cooperation with France, Germany and Italy, as Britain responds to a rapidly changing security environment and the continued war in Ukraine. Ministers say the funding underlines the UK’s determination to strengthen deterrence, protect allies and reinforce European security through advanced military capability.
A central pillar of the effort is Stratus, a joint missile programme with France and Italy. The UK is leading work on the next-generation successor to the Storm Shadow missile, focusing on both stealthy and high-speed variants. The programme already supports more than 1,300 highly skilled jobs across the UK and is designed to deliver weapons capable of striking high-value targets, destroying enemy ships and suppressing air defences.
Alongside this, Britain’s long-range weapons partnership with Germany is gathering pace. A new joint study phase is about to begin, aimed at fast-tracking the development of future stealth and hypersonic systems. The work follows the landmark Trinity House Agreement signed in 2024, which committed both countries to deeper defence and industrial cooperation.
The resulting system, known as Deep Precision Strike, is expected to have a range exceeding 2,000 kilometres and to enter service in the 2030s. Officials describe it as one of the most advanced weapons ever designed by the UK, intended to bolster deterrence for both Britain and its allies within NATO.
The spending comes as part of the government’s pledge to deliver the largest sustained increase in defence funding since the end of the Cold War, with defence spending set to reach 2.6% of GDP from 2027.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “To meet this new era of rising threats, we need hard power, strong alliances and sure diplomacy.
We can see from the war in Ukraine the decisive impact of long-range precision weapons, so the UK is stepping up, investing more than £400 million for long-range and hypersonic weapons this year.
Alongside Germany, France and Italy, we will deliver the cutting-edge weapons that will keep the UK and NATO safe, boost deterrence, and build a new deal for European security”.
The hypersonic investment also covers critical enabling technologies, including ground and flight testing, as well as funding for academic skills, training programmes and postgraduate research to ensure the UK retains expertise in this highly specialised field.
The Defence Secretary is expected to discuss the projects and deeper industrial cooperation with allies during meetings at the Munich Security Conference, where European and international leaders are gathering amid heightened concern over Russian military activity.
The renewed focus on missile cooperation comes against the backdrop of Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. In early February, UK Defence Intelligence reported that Russia had carried out a large-scale, multi-axis strike using long-range bombers, hypersonic missiles, more than 60 ballistic and cruise missiles, and around 450 one-way attack drones.
Officials say strengthening long-range strike capability, supporting Ukraine and deepening partnerships with European allies will dominate discussions as the UK seeks to reinforce collective defence and long-term security across Europe. Photo by Andysmith248, Wikimedia commons.