The document, which is expected to be approximately 130 to 150 pages in length, differs from previous reviews in that it has been led by external experts rather than being conducted internally. It will set out 62 recommendations, which the Government is expected to accept in full.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the review, which is set to be unveiled on Monday, as “a blueprint to make Britain safer and stronger, a battle-ready, bomber-clad nation”.
Here, The i Paper takes a look at everything we know so far about what will be in the strategic defence review.
It is expected that the review will recommend creating a new “digital warfighting group” with skills in hacking and cyber operations that will work alongside infantry soldiers to scramble enemy drone signals, take down drone “swarms” and launch counter-attacks if the UK is engaged in another war.
The Defence Secretary claimed on Sunday morning that Russia was already “attacking the UK daily as part of 90,000 attacks that we get that are linked to different states on our defence system in cyberspace”.
New nuclear submarines
The SDR will commit to building 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines in Barrow, Cumbria and Raynesway, Derby, as part of the three-country Aukus programme—a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
It is the first time Britain has disclosed how many new nuclear-powered attack submarines will be built. The previous government had already committed to replacing the Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines by the late 2030s with Aukus boats, but had not specified the number.
The Government has already announced it will spend £1.5bn on building six munitions and energetics factories as part of efforts to “better deter our adversaries”.
Announcing the plans over the weekend, Healey stated that the investment would establish an “always-on” weapons pipeline and support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons.
‘HMS Artful’, an Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, at Faslane naval base (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)
‘Nuclear-capable’ fighter jets
The SDR is not expected to call for the UK to obtain tactical nuclear weapons specifically, but it’s understood that the Government is considering this move.
Britain is the only major nuclear power that has only one method of delivering a nuclear weapon, from a submarine at sea, and earlier this month, former Cabinet Secretary Sir Simon Case joined figures calling for the UK to reinstate tactical weapons to its arsenal. It is understood that several military experts, including retired generals, have also advocated for their return.
The SDR is set to address falling troop numbers and will recommend that £1.5bn be spent on improving the state of military accommodation, with a particular focus on the 1,000 homes that are most severely affected.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Healey said there had been “15 years of a recruitment and retention crisis in our armed forces” as he acknowledged that the size of the army had fallen to a low of 70,860 – below the government’s current target of 73,000 and the lowest level since the Napoleonic War.
Protection from underwater threats
The Government previously warned in a defence report in 2021 that Russia is developing “deep-sea capabilities which can threaten undersea cables”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showing Sir Keir Starmer a presentation of Ukrainian military drones in Kyiv, earlier this year (Photo: Getty Images Europe)
The SDR will propose the establishment of a new Home Guard to safeguard airports, communication centres, and other vital aspects of Britain’s critical national infrastructure against drone and unexpected attacks. This new force aims to relieve soldiers and specialised police currently tasked with securing these sites.
Many countries already operate some form of Home Guard, including Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
New fighting methods
According to The Times, the military is set to adopt the “20-40-40” strategy, which uses 20 per cent traditional heavy equipment such as tanks, 40 per cent single-use munitions like drones and loitering munitions, and 40 per cent reusable, high-end drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Building a UK ‘Iron Dome’
The i Paper understands that the SDR is expected to recommend increasing the country’s homeland protection against attacks from Russia and other hostile states.
This follows calls for the UK to develop its own version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.
Multiple former defence ministers told The i Paper in October that the UK needs its own version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system to protect it from Russian aggression and growing instability in the Middle East.
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