The British Army aims to increase its lethality tenfold over the next decade through greater use of drones, data, and digital connectivity, while the Royal Navy advances toward hybrid airwings and autonomous naval systems—according to a press release from the Ministry of Defence.
Unveiled alongside the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the measures represent what the Defence Secretary has called “the biggest transformation of the Armed Forces in memory,” with a clear emphasis on modernising warfighting capabilities and maintaining NATO leadership.
While phrases like “tenfold increase in lethality” may risk sounding vague, the Ministry of Defence points to tangible steps behind the rhetoric. These include integrating advanced firepower, surveillance, autonomy, and AI to enable faster and more precise targeting. A key element is the Army’s Digital Targeting Web, which will allow forces to detect and strike adversaries at greater speed and scale—capabilities already being trialled through the ASGARD initiative with British troops deployed in Estonia.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “We will invest in technology to give our troops the edge in the battlefields of the future; transforming our Armed Forces and boosting our warfighting readiness.”
“This will increase our lethality, provide a powerful deterrent to our adversaries, and put the UK at the leading edge of innovation in NATO,” he added.
To deliver on this ambition, the Ministry of Defence will spend at least 10% of its overall budget on drones and novel technologies, as part of a previously announced £5 billion investment in advanced systems including directed energy weapons. The government also launched a new procurement framework last week to invite industry submissions for next-generation digital systems that could integrate with the Army’s battlefield architecture.
For the Royal Navy, the vision includes the evolution of its Carrier Strike programme into a more flexible, hybrid force. The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers will increasingly operate air wings composed of both crewed F-35B fighters and autonomous platforms, building toward what officials describe as Europe’s first ‘hybrid’ carrier capability.
The move reflects broader shifts across NATO, as allied navies explore how uncrewed and autonomous systems can extend range, reduce risk to personnel, and operate effectively in contested environments. HMS Prince of Wales, currently deployed to the Indo-Pacific, already carries uncrewed systems onboard as part of this ongoing transformation.
Elsewhere in Brussels, Healey confirmed that UK military liaison officers will join the development of NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland, working alongside Sweden and Finland to bolster deterrence on the Eastern Flank.
He is also expected to sign the UK-led NATO Flight Training Europe agreement alongside Canada, Denmark, Norway and Poland, establishing a network of pilot training campuses across the alliance.
I don’t know why we insist on such phrases as this. It’s the same as our “100 year commitment to Ukraine” – it literally means nothing and undermines credibility.
Just DO stuff and stop making embarrassing comments. Let action tell the story.
Exactly ‘coalition of the doing’ not willing!
They are politicians and are trying to convey a few messages.
Firstly the weapons we will be producing are not more of the same. Secondly we expect to get ten times the firecpower for 10% of the current cost and lastly there is going to be a lot of money spent with new smaller businesses – which is an invitation to a lot of businesses which have never been involved in defence before.
Considering the on going joke i have on here with Posse about “informing decisions” and “greater understandings” concerning never ending trials over the last decade that don’t involve the MoD then actually buying anything, I’m looking forward, with some scepticism, to a 10% spend on such stuff.
When such kit does then get s contract, it is for UKR, not the Army.
I also weigh such claims alongside getting rid of our 155mm guns in exchange for 14 Archer, even if that’s interim, and losing the IFV capability of Warrior.
We’ve also heard these grand claims countless times since 2010.
So let’s see the words and grandstanding stop and the action begin. Where are they?
Which? When? How many? In what number?
Let me guess, wait for the SDR? Ah, ok, wait for the White Paper in the autumn.
Come on Daniele we are getting panel vans drone launcher for January.. who needs self propelled 155mm guns.
Transit E versions are currently on 12 months back order, assuming it’s the Eco friendly Vans we are purchasing ?
“Clowns to the left, jokers to the right, here I am stuck at the charging station” so on and so forth.
🙄😁
A number of nato countries are ordering the k9 from Korea it was thought at the school that we would receive it as well to replace as90 then out of the blue master gunner sunak decided to do a deal with germany for rch boxer . The Koreans were going to build k9 in the uk and set up a European spares hub here in the uk but that’s gone down the loo as well
“Tenfold increase in lethality”
What complete PR garbage
Up until the SDR, the goal was to “triple lethality.” Now, the new plan is to make the Army “10 times more lethal.” At this rate, let’s hope the command paper offers more than just another meaningless multiplier, maybe “25 times more lethal”?
Right now, it’s all media fluff and empty slogans.
JJ, I recall many of us puzzling on how a brand new CGS was going to very quickly double, then triple lethality. No significant plan ever emerged over the course of nearly a year. Now the ’10 times’ aspiration…and all without IFV cannons and far fewer tanks than we had before, and no order for tube artillery. Its all going to be achieved by drones and faster sensor to shooter times etc. I am unconvinced.
Exactly, Graham.
It’s easy to roll out these media-friendly slogans and I do appreciate the value of new and novel capabilities but there’s still so much to address on the conventional side, as you rightly pointed out.
Some will say, “Let’s wait for the Command Paper,” but by then this entire process will have dragged on for over a year. That may have been acceptable in the past, but we’re in very different times now. Our adversaries seem to be achieving far more in 12 months than we are, and that should be a serious cause for reflection.
Panel van drone launchers Graham.. keep up
As seen on Twitter, in places like Catterick, Tidworth, Warminster.
Warming sign.
10x Lethality ahead.
What total cobblers.
I’m not on Twitter, but I’ve been meaning to sign up for a while and will do later.
which accounts or pages would you recommend for reliable military information?
Hi JJ.
I don’t use that many as it happens. Reliable, hmmm, it depends. I have built up my own knowledge on the ORBATS for many years via my own research and the Twitter feeds are just another source, not always reliable.
I use UKAFC daily. UK Armed Forces Commentary, by Gabriele Molinelli. An Italian who wishes he was a Brit, I feel, such is his love for our military history and armed forces. He also tracks the ORBATs, which is also my main thing, and I usually find myself agreeing with his views.
Also Sir Humphrey, he has his Pinstriped Line blog too online. He is very good.
Those are the only two I look at daily.
Others include Francis Tusa, The Other Chris, George Alison, ( owner of this site ) Nicholas Drummond ( I don’t always agree with his ORBAT ideas, and he’s biased regards Boxer ) and the many Twitter feeds of the three services and various official organisations and commands.
Then you have the feeds of the websites Navy Lookout and Think Defence.
Cheers, Daniele.
I’m not on any social media and generally try to avoid screen time as much as possible. But I’m glad I stumbled across this site. At least now I don’t have to bore my mates with all things military…
The missus has already noticed I’m on my phone a lot more lately (thanks to this site), and now I’ll have to explain that I’m on Twitter honing my ‘keyboard warrior’ skills.
Appreciate the recommendations 👍
Ha! Likewise. When you’re a military nerd but not actually serving, where do you go to discuss with like minded who have the interest. This is THE site for that, and it has grown in status for years.
You’re wise to avoid SM, I’m only on Twitter to look for more military data and only on FB to sell paintings.
Otherwise, they’re a sewer.
All you could ever wish for is contained right here in the comments section. We have every expert on every subject firmly ensconced ready to respond at a seconds notice 24/7 365.
“If you are in trouble and you need help, Call the “A” Team”.
This is fantastic news, a real game changer, once again we lead the world in new tactics. This is true “edge of tomorrow” stuff.
Don’t mess with us Brits, we can now kill you ten times.
“Live, Die, Repeat”.
A high dependence on drones is now centre stage of three services but should there be another new ‘Core of Drums,’ a group established to guard the UK from mercenary Russian infiltrators and terrorists? There could be control centres located across the kingdom with the sole job of guarding key installations, both military and civilian. The drone threat is in its infancy and can only become more sophisticated as Ai and other technologies progress. In ten years, the amount of goods delivered to our doors will be staggering, from milk to refrigerators and in complete harmony with these developments the people who want to do us all harm will be deploying drones on a regular basis. The burning question: will the police be in charge or a dedicated core under the control of the MOD?
Measure and counter-measure, it is a constant cycle. In WW1 the Germans invented the anti-tank rifle, tank adapted, in ww2 the Germans had the panzerfaust shaped-charge, again AFVs and tactics adapted. Both were cheap weapons used to knock out some big expensive kit
ATM drones are the latest innovation and have delivered some battlefield shocks (well done UKR) counter-measures will be found.
Currently, the police have special drone operators for policing purposes in many instances and is cheaper than using helicopters. I’m suggesting the need for a much expanded operation that addresses military strikes against civilian targets. The Russians used a specialist group in the Salisbury poisoning and proved that state-supported terrorism is possible anywhere and at any time. Yes, there will be countermeasures, but the risks will also multiply exponentially.
I remember seeing a Policeman once.
“Just sayin like”.
The feel I get with all this “increase in lethality” is to miss less with what we have. Not terribly convincing.
NONSENSE X 10..
Word salad nonsense that actually says nothing that u can quantify so u cant pass or fail. Utter cobblers basically
You lot of moaning minis.. once we order a whole army of drone launching white panel vans driven by Bob the builder no nation will stand in our way..heee heee haaa haaaa…
The Army would spend a couple of years evaluating the Transporter, the Transit, and the Berlingo—agonizing over every detail. Eventually, they’d select the Transporter, mainly because it’s the most expensive option.
Not long after, concerns would be raised about the braking system, despite it being a tried and tested design used worldwide. Cue another multi-year effort to “improve” it, complete with endless consultations, reviews, and committee meetings.
Eventually, Volkswagen would promise a 10% improvement in braking performance at a ludicrous cost, of course.
The MOD would be so thrilled with this marginal gain that they’d proudly place an order for 20 of them.
You’ve got it. We are a cynical bunch.
I don’t mean to be. But such is the MoD’s ability to waste money, take decades for the smallest thing, and generally go round in circles while reinventing the wheel, while MoD and HMG grandstand, one ends up this way.
Is anyone else seeing their comments being held for moderation recently?
Thought it was just me, to be honest. That’s a relief.
It’s just yous two.. UKDJ hates you both 😂
I wouldn’t blame UKDJ! Luckily — for me at least I’m only here for ‘halfwits’ humour 👌
I’m only here for everyone else’s.
No seriously though, “What a carry on it is”. “Never in the field of forum commenting has so much been written by so few for so little actual reason whilst having no effect or impact in or on any person or policy ever.”
And long may it “carry on”.
@ halfwit: we don’t want anything done after all what would we moan about..
“do Do? Do? We’re British. We won’t do anything”
@Jonathan:, ain’t dat da trute bro, init.
I’m sorry, I just got back from Londanistan, I think I got rubbed off on.
I’m sorry for saying that, It’s not like I’m feeling myself lately.
Bugger, give me a shovel, I need to dig a bigger hole for said “do do”.
I think the point is that new technology will increase the lethality of modern soldiers by a magnitude. This also applies to the enemy. Rather like the machine gun. Both sides get slaughtered in greater quantities.
German built Sprinter or Turkish built Transit. Love the defence industrial strategy in action..
Unless the Army plan to start using tactical battlefield nukes, I don’t see how a ten fold increase in lethality is possible without a lot more troops, tanks and artillery.
The nuclear hand Grenade.. the ultimate in personal weapons.. they have just never found anyone who can throw the thing 5 miles..🤯
Find a bug hole, shoot a nuke down it.
Smoke,Mirrors,Fudge,Can kicking and BS wrapped up in a verbose,overblown,opaque publication.3 things should have come from this nonsense
1.What does the UK want its Armed Forces to do in the World for the next 40 years.
2.Once No 1 is decided,what assets/equipment/personnel are needed to do the job.
3.With 1 and 2 sorted everything has to be paid for.
Unfortunately it is becoming necessary to start with 3.How much are we willing to spend and what can we buy for the money.
If we become ten times more lethal with what we have, we can get rid of some of it.
We had twelve Type 42 but needed only six Type 45 because they were so much more capable.
Surely somebody in the Treasury must see this.
I bet they are all over it don’t worry!
😂
The problem with 10x lethality is that they haven’t had the chance to announce enough headlines for defence partnerships or programmes/studies, they were only expecting to need enough for 2-3x. Are the expected timeframes enough for the MOD to abandon or restart studies multiple times and take a minimum of half a decade per study, there may not be time to switch to a turret-less CH3.
The real worry is that if they don’t have time to announce more partnerships and studies they may actually have to order some kit as there won’t be anything else for headlines to help people believe the 10x slogan.
Where are we going to get all the service men needed to operate these systems? The Royal Navy are already signing off ships early due to lack of sailors. Autonomous weapons systems are a sci-fi dream, they need humans to control them.