The UK government has unveiled a bold new defence strategy, pledging over £1 billion towards artificial intelligence and drone technologies to modernise battlefield operations.
The investment forms part of a wide-ranging Strategic Defence Review set to be fully published on Monday.
Under this new vision, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) aims to accelerate decision-making on the frontlines by using advanced AI systems and drone capabilities. A key feature of the plan includes the creation of a Digital Targeting Web—an advanced network linking soldiers on the ground with satellite, drone, and aircraft intelligence, allowing for faster and more precise engagement with enemy threats.
Defence Secretary John Healey emphasised that lessons from Ukraine’s war efforts have influenced the UK’s strategic shift. Ukraine has already demonstrated success using AI to streamline the targeting process against Russian forces.
The review, commissioned by the Labour government following last year’s election, is described by Healey as a first-of-its-kind initiative, combining cyber, electromagnetic, and digital warfare into a unified military vision. The MoD’s cyber headquarters in Corsham, Wiltshire, is at the heart of this new era in defence strategy.
UK defence officials report facing over 90,000 cyber-attacks in the past two years, many of which originate from hostile states such as Russia and China. Corsham-based staff have recently intercepted malware targeted at British military personnel, traced to a known Russian cyber actor.
In response to increasing threats, the UK will launch a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command. This body will lead the country’s electronic warfare efforts—ranging from communication interception to drone jamming—ensuring the British Armed Forces can operate effectively in the digital domain.
Healey highlighted that modern warfare now includes cyber operations as standard. The keyboard, he said, has become a key weapon of war, and the UK must remain the most agile and innovative military within NATO.
To support this transformation, the government reaffirmed its historic pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with aspirations to reach 3% in the next parliament. Funding will be partially sourced from the reallocation of foreign aid budgets.
However, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged allies to exceed these targets, calling for spending to rise above 3.5% of GDP to address evolving global threats.
As the UK positions itself at the forefront of next-generation warfare, this strategic review marks a significant pivot in defence policy—one that blends traditional military capabilities with cutting-edge technology.
