UK Government Launches Strategic Defence Review Boosting Navy, Submarine Production

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey have unveiled the United Kingdom's 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), emphasizing a shift to warfighting readiness, NATO-first alignment, and rapid innovation to address evolving threats. The review outlines plans to expand the Royal Navy with up to twelve attack submarines, increased munitions production, and a hybrid naval force combining drones with traditional vessels. While the SDR presents an ambitious vision, including a target to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2034, critics highlight the lack of firm financial commitments and detailed force design, leaving some uncertainty about programme implementation. The government endorses all 62 recommendations from the review, stressing the need to respond to new threats such as Russian aggression, nuclear risks, and cyberattacks, while improving conditions for armed forces personnel. The review involved extensive consultation, gathering thousands of submissions and expert input, and aims to boost defence capabilities alongside economic growth and job creation across the UK. Despite the positive direction, economic constraints and political hesitations may challenge the full realization of the review's ambitions.