Overview
- General Sir Richard Barrons, in a Sunday interview, said the armed forces lack money to buy new weapons for about four years and can only think about preparing for war.
- He said the Army can fund crewed kit like tanks and helicopters but not the expendable autonomous systems such as loitering munitions and kamikaze drones that leaders expect to make up most future firepower.
- Barrons argued the Ministry of Defence cannot afford the Army’s 20-40-40 model, which relies on 80% of combat power coming from cheaper, short-life drones and munitions rather than traditional vehicles.
- He warned defence firms are following investment to Germany, Poland and the United States, which could leave UK troops waiting longer for gear and force future purchases from abroad.
- The MoD rejected the claims and cited £270 billion of investment this parliament, nearly 1,200 major contracts since July 2024 with 93% spent in the UK, a £4 billion drone push, and an unpublished investment plan still to set the path forward.