United Kingdom: The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is set to confirm the construction of up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines armed with conventional weapons under the AUKUS programme. This UK submarine expansion is part of a wider response to growing international threats and a core pillar of the latest strategic defence review.
The UK submarine expansion is set to take a major leap forward as the government prepares to announce a significant increase to its nuclear-powered fleet. The plan aims to strengthen defence, support thousands of skilled jobs, and reinforce the UK’s global security posture.
The UK submarine expansion builds on a £15 billion investment committed to the UK’s sovereign nuclear warhead programme. Together, these defence projects will support 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country, along with 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles over the next decade.
The strategic defence review outlines 62 recommendations, all of which are expected to be accepted. These include a shift to warfighting readiness, larger munitions stockpiles, and scalable production capabilities during times of crisis.
The plan also involves the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons, supporting around 800 defence jobs. A new CyberEM Command will be established with £1 billion in digital capability investment. Additionally, £1.5 billion will be allocated to upgrade housing for military personnel and their families.
The strategic defence review aims to ensure the UK meets the challenges of an increasingly uncertain world, equipping the Armed Forces with the tools they need to protect the country while creating new opportunities for the next generation of engineers, shipbuilders, and technicians.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP highlighted that the UK’s outstanding submariners patrol around the clock to keep the nation and its allies safe. He acknowledged that threats are rising, emphasising the need for decisive action to counter Russian aggression.
The Defence Secretary also emphasised that, with new state-of-the-art submarines operating in international waters alongside the UK’s nuclear warhead programme on British soil, the government is working to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad. This effort also supports the delivery of the Plan for Change, creating 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country.
The UK submarine expansion is expected to shape the future of national defence and deliver lasting benefits to the British economy and workforce.
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