New jets confirmed for Red Arrows in Hawk replacement

The Red Arrows are to receive new jets to replace their ageing Hawk aircraft as part of a £360 million recapitalisation of the military's jet training system.
Silhouetted soldiers with gear and rifles against a dusky sunset, one with a helmet-mounted device.

Britain to boost elite special forces with uplift

The Defence Investment Plan gives the UK's Special Forces a 12 percent funding uplift over four years and equips its high-readiness troops, 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Commando Force, with new communications, drones and night-vision kit.

UK commits to ‘future’ of long range strike capability

The Defence Investment Plan invests GBP 1.4bn in the Stratus missile to arm Typhoon jets and the Navy's new frigates in cooperation with France and Italy, naming it the future of UK complex weapons.
Gray military fighter jet in a hangar on transport pallets, with a red protective cover over the intake and maintenance equipment nearby.

Storm Shadow on way out in favour of cheaper missiles

Britain is to move away from the Storm Shadow cruise missile that has armed its jets for a quarter of a century, pivoting to a new generation of cheaper cruise missiles.

RAF to retire Shadow spy plane fleet to make way for drones

The RAF Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft are among older ISR platforms to be retired under the Defence Investment Plan, with the MoD planning to hand much of the role to uncrewed systems over time.

Britain confirms funding for new sixth gen fighter jet

The Defence Investment Plan confirms £8.6bn over four years for the Global Combat Air Programme, the next-generation fighter Britain is building with Japan and Italy, funding its concept and design phases.

Britain boosting homeland missile defence in new plans

A GBP 790m investment will revamp the UK's air and missile defences, buying new radars and sensors, upgrading Sea Viper on the Type 45s, expanding counter-drone systems and building a new air, space and missile defence operations centre.

Starmer backs 5 billion drone overhaul for UK forces in DIP

The Prime Minister will launch the Defence Investment Plan with more than 5 billion over four years for drones and autonomous systems across the Royal Navy, Army and RAF.

France picks THUNDART for Long-Range Strike

MBDA and Safran have entered final contract talks with the DGA to supply THUNDART, a guided rocket reaching up to 150km, as France replaces its ageing LRU launchers with a sovereign deep-strike system.
Silhouette of a small aircraft on a runway at sunset, with an orange sky and distant mountains.

Defence minister rebukes MP over written question volume

A minister has taken the rare step of chastising a Conservative MP within a parliamentary answer itself, telling Ben Obese-Jecty MP that his recent questions have cost the department staff time.