Overview
- The government published the long‑delayed Defence Investment Plan on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, committing about £298 billion over four years and a £15 billion cash uplift to defence spending.
- Officials say annual defence spending will rise to roughly £80 billion by 2029 and to about 2.7 percent of GDP by 2030, short of the 3 percent target some military leaders sought.
- Defence chiefs had requested roughly £28 billion of extra funding and say the £15 billion package falls well short, a gap the MoD warns will force trade‑offs in equipment buys, training and maintenance.
- The DIP channels more than £5 billion into drones and autonomous systems, allocates about £8 billion to the Global Combat Air Programme and about £64 billion to nuclear deterrent work while cancelling or delaying some civilian capital projects to free cash.
- Political instability and recent ministerial resignations leave the plan vulnerable to revision by the incoming prime minister, and industry and watchdogs warn delays have already strained suppliers and readiness.