Inside UK's plan for World War 3: Billions for nukes, drones and long-range weapons
"For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario," the NSS states.
The strategy warns of escalating global tensions, citing flashpoints such as the Indo-Pacific, rising hostility between India and Pakistan, and recent military conflict between Israel and Iran. 'Significant escalation in any of these theatres,' the document notes, 'would have a profoundly negative impact on our energy security, the cost of living and our ability to grow our economy.'
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It also points to growing coordination between hostile states like Russia and China, terrorist groups, and transnational criminals. In this increasingly unstable environment, the risks posed by
nuclear weapons
are described as 'more complex than they were even during the Cold War.'
In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has committed to raising defence spending to 5% of GDP within the next decade — a scale of investment 'not seen since 1945.' Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden emphasized the need to bolster domestic defences and secure the nation's borders.
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Key pillars of the strategy include:
Construction of six new munitions factories and procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons.
£15 billion investment in a sovereign nuclear warhead programme, and £31 billion for the Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine fleet.
Creation of UK Defence Innovation, a new agency to accelerate adoption of cutting-edge military technology.
£4 billion investment in autonomous systems such as
drones
, AI-powered targeting, and battlefield communication platforms.
The UK is also deepening military cooperation with global allies. Under the AUKUS pact and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Australia, Japan, and Italy, the UK will co-develop nuclear-powered submarines and sixth-generation fighter jets. These initiatives are expected to generate tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs, including 30,000 in the submarine sector alone.
Another major shift lies in the push for economic self-reliance and reduced dependence on adversarial powers. The government plans to rebuild the defence industrial base, promote innovation by easing regulation, and directly intervene in strategic industries like steel and shipbuilding.
To ensure these benefits are felt nationwide, 68% of Ministry of Defence spending will take place outside London and the South East, supporting regional economies and strengthening national resilience.
With mounting geopolitical threats and a rapidly evolving battlefield shaped by drones, cyber warfare, and AI, the UK's latest strategy marks a turning point — one that redefines defence not just as protection, but as a pillar of national prosperity and global relevance.
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