A major new defence investment will accelerate the transformation of the UK's Armed Forces through advanced autonomous and AI-enabled capabilities, ranging from sophisticated
mine-hunting and anti-submarine systems to tactical quadcopters and low-cost one-way attack drones.
The Defence Investment Plan delivers the vision set out in the Strategic Defence Review, strengthening the UK's armed forces while investing in sovereign defence technologies that will enhance national security, support economic growth and reinforce Britain's position as a global defence innovator.
Royal Navy: building the hybrid fleet
The Royal Navy will evolve into a Hybrid Navy, combining crewed warships and aircraft with autonomous vessels and AI-enabled systems to create a more capable and resilient force.
Key investments include:
Type 91: Uncrewed missile platforms that will increase the firepower and reach of the Hybrid Fleet.
Type 92: Autonomous surveillance platforms designed to detect and track hostile submarines across the North Atlantic, supporting the Royal Navy's next-generation frigates.
Type 93: Extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles that will operate alongside hunter-killer submarines to locate and defeat enemy submarines.
Type 94: Autonomous sensing platforms that will monitor the skies for threats to both the Hybrid Fleet and the UK homeland.
During the 2030s, the Royal Navy will expand these autonomous capabilities and introduce at least six Common Combat Vessels, providing the command-and-control backbone of a networked Maritime Air Defence system.
Project PANTHEON will develop a Hybrid Carrier Air Wing, including trials of jet-powered autonomous aircraft operating alongside the UK's F-35B Lightning force.
Royal Marine Commandos will also receive further investment as part of their ongoing transformation, with new high-speed craft and the latest drone and autonomous technologies enhancing their operational effectiveness.
British Army: enhancing lethality through autonomous systems
The British Army will significantly increase its combat effectiveness through major investment in autonomous capabilities and next-generation uncrewed systems.
Key initiatives include:
A substantial investment in low-cost expendable autonomous systems and loitering munitions, including a £50 million funding boost over the next 12 months for the Army's RAPSTONE programme, supporting additional first-person-view (FPV) and interceptor drones.
A new Uncrewed Ground Vehicles programme to rapidly develop and manufacture autonomous land vehicles and mission systems in partnership with UK industry.
Project NYX, which will deliver up to 24 autonomous armed drones by 2030 to operate alongside the Army's upgraded Apache helicopters, conducting reconnaissance, precision strike and electronic warfare missions.
Project CORVUS, which will introduce up to 24 next-generation surveillance drones to replace the Watchkeeper system, delivering intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities.
Royal Air Force: advancing autonomous air power
The Royal Air Force will accelerate the development of autonomous air capabilities through investment in next-generation combat aviation.
This includes:
A new national Collaborative Combat Air programme to develop autonomous combat aircraft that will operate alongside crewed fighter jets, with a demonstrator expected to fly by 2030.
The introduction of the Storm Shroud uncrewed electronic warfare system into operational service this year, strengthening the RAF's ability to counter modern threats.
Investing in Britain's defence future
The Defence Investment Plan places defence on a stronger and more sustainable footing while prioritising the growth of sovereign British AI and autonomous technologies.
By building on the UK's world-leading research and industrial base, working closely with key allies and investing in home-grown innovation, the plan will strengthen national security, support skilled jobs and position Britain to export advanced defence capabilities to partners around the world.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“This game-changing investment will strengthen our Armed Forces on land, at sea and in the air, ensuring our servicemen and women have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to deter evolving threats and keep the British people safe.
At the same time, we are backing British innovation, British industry and British jobs and delivering opportunity to every corner of the country.
Today’s Defence Investment Plan will help drive growth across the UK, giving our industrial base the confidence, certainty and support it needs to develop and scale the technologies that will keep our country safe and secure long into the future”.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP said:
“Our Armed Forces are serving at an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable time. We are determined to give them what they need as they serve with courage and exceptional skill to keep us safe.
The character of warfare is rapidly changing. In Ukraine and the Middle East, uncrewed systems are defining conflicts. This largest ever UK investment into these evolving technologies will help our Armed Forces stay ahead of our adversaries, backed by the best of our defence industry. We are giving our extraordinary people the equipment they need to fight and win”. Photo: Harland Quarrington/MOD, Wikimedia commons.
