UK Plans Multi-Billion Pound AI, Laser, Drone Military Overhaul

The United Kingdom is undergoing a comprehensive military overhaul to address long-standing underinvestment and prepare for potential conflicts with peer adversaries like Russia and China. Central to this transformation is the Strategic Defence Review, which emphasizes expanding troop numbers, enhancing lethality through drones, AI, lasers, and autonomous systems, and rebuilding munitions and weapons stockpiles. Defence Secretary John Healey described the new military as potentially ten times more lethal, with a focus on rapid technology deployment and innovation, including a new drone centre and significant investment in lasers to protect forces. The review warns of increasingly serious and unpredictable threats, including missile strikes and sabotage on critical infrastructure, underscoring the need for a force optimized for high-intensity warfare rather than peacetime efficiency. The UK plans to revive reserve forces, invest in cyber capabilities, and develop defences against emerging threats such as biological weapons, marking the most profound military modernization in over a century. This shift reflects lessons learned from contemporary conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting the importance of industrial adaptability and multi-domain operational readiness.