The UK government has announced plans to spend £1.5 billion on building six new munitions and energetics factories, aiming to create an "always-on" weapons pipeline and enhance military readiness. The investment is a key outcome of the strategic defence review, which is set to be unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the new facilities would "better deter our adversaries" and support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. The funding will bring total spending on UK munitions to £6 billion during this parliament and support 1,800 jobs across the country, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The strategic defence review, a 130-page document, outlines the threats facing Britain, including the "immediate and pressing" danger posed by Russia, and draws heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine. Healey emphasised that the conflict has shown a military is only as strong as the industry behind it, and the new investment will strengthen the UK's industrial base.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that "a strong economy needs a strong national defence," and that investing in weaponry and backing nearly 2,000 jobs demonstrates the link between the two. The review will also urge the Ministry of Defence to lay industrial foundations for increased munitions stockpiles to meet the demands of high-tempo warfare.
In addition to the defence spending, ministers have announced over £1.5 billion to improve military housing, including urgent repairs to boilers, roofs, and damp issues. Healey acknowledged that for years, service families have been forced to live in substandard homes, despite the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel.
The review, written by former NATO secretary-general George Robertson, former US presidential adviser Fiona Hill, and former joint force commander Richard Barrons, is expected to reiterate a commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% in the next parliament. It paints a picture of the most heightened military and security threat since the end of the Cold War.
