LONDON, — The United Kingdom will expand its fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines as part of a sweeping strategic defence review set to be unveiled today. The initiative marks a decisive shift toward preparing Britain’s armed forces for high-intensity warfare and addressing the growing threat posed by Russia.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is accelerating efforts to rebuild the UK’s military strength, echoing concerns shared by European allies after former US President Donald Trump urged the continent to take greater responsibility for its own defence.
The forthcoming defence review will call for Britain’s armed forces to adopt a posture of full “warfighting readiness,” while identifying a range of emerging threats — chief among them, Russian aggression.
In response to shifting geopolitical realities and the diminishing reliability of US strategic cover, Starmer has already pledged to increase defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a longer-term ambition to reach 3%.
Key measures in the review include the construction of at least six new munitions factories, the procurement of up to 7,000 British-made long-range precision weapons, and the rollout of advanced cyber and communications systems to enhance battlefield connectivity and resilience.
“We cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses. We’ve seen what happened in Ukraine just over three years ago,” Starmer told the BBC.
The review is co-led by former NATO Secretary-General George Robertson and Fiona Hill, a former Russia adviser to the White House. Their joint findings aim to reverse decades of military decline since the end of the Cold War. A total of 62 recommendations are expected to be presented — all of which the government is anticipated to accept.
Submarine Fleet Expansion
Among the headline reforms is the plan to build up to 12 next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines, which will carry conventional (non-nuclear) weapons. These new submarines will gradually replace the current fleet of seven beginning in the late 2030s, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Britain’s nuclear deterrent, carried by a separate fleet of submarines armed with nuclear warheads, remains intact. For the first time, the government disclosed that the ongoing programme to develop a new nuclear warhead will cost £15 billion.
“With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and a sovereign nuclear warhead programme based on British soil, we are making the UK secure at home and strong abroad,” said Defence Secretary John Healey.
The next-generation submarines are being co-developed with the United States and Australia under the AUKUS trilateral security pact.
Despite facing tight public finances, stagnant economic growth, and political pressure from an increasingly disillusioned electorate, Starmer is positioning the defence initiative as both a strategic necessity and an economic opportunity.
“This plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs across the country,” he is expected to say in today’s announcement.
