UK government defence review pledges to ‘accelerate innovation to a wartime pace’
The UK will move its armed forces onto a warfighting readiness and accelerate innovation as the government sets out plans to boost national security.
Setting out a Strategic Defence Review he commissioned when he became prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer said the review recognised that the world had changed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The UK faced a new era of threats, he said.
“We face war in Europe, new nuclear risks, daily cyber attacks, growing Russian aggression in our waters, menacing our skies. Their reckless actions driving up the cost of living here at home, creating economic pain and hitting working people the hardest.”
This new era demands a new era for defence and security for the UK “not just to survive in this new world, but to lead”.
Setting out the defence review, Starmer said the “organising principle of government is our security” and set out three changes to realise this focus. As well as moving the armed forces to a state of warfighting readiness, Stamer said the UK would work to add to the strength of NATO, and accelerate innovation to a wartime pace.
Innovation 2026 will be expanding to include a stream on sharing innovation in defence and security. Register your interest to attend Innovation 2026 here
Speaking at the launch event in Glasgow, Starmer said accelerated innovation was needed “so we can meet the threats of today and tomorrow”.
This innovation will focus on better integrating how different arms of the armed services work together, Starmer said.
“We are more ambitious than ever for the change it can bring, to deliver not just security for our country, but renewal too.”
Starmer reiterated his previous comments that the government plans to boost defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027 would generate a “defence dividend” that will boost job creation and opportunity as a result of the country’s increased investment in defence.
He said that this dividend would be delivered by “ensuring that everyone across the United Kingdom has a role to play in this effort… but, also, that everyone has a stake in its success”.
Among the areas of investment set out in the review is a plan to build at least six new munitions factories in the UK, and build up to 12 attack submarines.
Starmer concluded that “the moment has arrived to transform how we defend ourselves, and to renew our nation”, adding: “Because when it comes to security and renewal, nothing works unless we all work together.”
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