The UK Prince of Wales aircraft carrier arrives at Portsmouth harbour in England after an eight month deployment (UK MoD)
WASHINGTON — Hours before the expected publication of the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP), the United Kingdom has released new details about its contents, emphasizing a dramatic shift to hybrid and unmanned systems for years to come.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will officially kick off the DIP rollout with a speech Tuesday at a “British defence firm.” But ahead of that speech, the MoD put out a release emphasising major investments and specific projects, including £5 billion ($6.6 billion) for a “drone transformation,” featuring a shift away from large naval ships to a “hybrid” fleet and a new collaborative combat aircraft program for the Royal Air Force.
“This game-changing investment will strengthen our Armed Forces on land, at sea and in the air, ensuring our servicemen and women have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to deter evolving threats and keep the British people safe,” Starmer said of the plan, according to the MoD’s release.
The total investment is reported to be £13.5 billion, far short of the £28 billion the MoD had originally requested.
