Overview
- The government published the long‑delayed Defence Investment Plan on Tuesday, promising an extra £15 billion over four years and lifting defence to about 2.7% of GDP by 2029.
- The DIP earmarks roughly £5 billion for drones and autonomous systems, about £8 billion for the Global Combat Air Programme and around £63–64 billion for nuclear deterrent modernisation.
- About £4.7 billion of the package is unspecified and must be found at the autumn Budget while the MoD is required to identify roughly £10–11 billion of efficiencies, including cuts to some equipment programmes.
- Senior military figures and former ministers warned the settlement falls short of the MoD’s roughly £28 billion request and said the choices on training, readiness and procurement will shift to the next prime minister.
- The plan ends months of Whitehall dispute but raises questions for the July NATO summit and the next spending review about how Britain will meet longer‑term NATO spending targets and protect readiness.