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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.
Type 45 Destroyers will not see service life extended
The Royal Navy will not extend its six Type 45 destroyers, which begin retiring from 2035, with an extra GBP 1.3bn going into the hybrid fleet meant to replace them over the following decade, officials said.
Army Wildcat helicopter to be retired
The Army's Wildcat battlefield reconnaissance helicopters will begin leaving service from 2027, with the MoD saying uncrewed systems will take over the job of scouting ahead of friendly lines.
NEWSLETTER
NAVAL NEWS
Britain confirms plan to build 12 new nuclear attack subs
The Defence Investment Plan commits the UK to building up to twelve next-generation SSN-AUKUS attack submarines, the same boats Australia will build, with steel to be cut on the first at Barrow next year.
UK green lights three huge floating submarine repair docks
The UK has committed to three floating docks under Programme EUSTON, one more than previously planned, easing the out-of-water maintenance shortage behind the submarine availability crisis.
British Type 31 Frigates to get powerful anti-ship missile
The Defence Investment Plan confirms funding to bring the Type 31 frigates into service and arm them with Mk 41 launchers and Norway's Naval Strike Missile, plus new gun ammunition to defeat drones and surface threats.
Britain drops plans for Multi-Role Strike Ships
The Defence Investment Plan drops the bespoke Multi-Role Strike Ship as too complex and commits the UK to a joint amphibious fleet with the Netherlands, built around the Dutch-led Amphibious Transport Ship programme.
Type 45 Destroyers will not see service life extended
The Royal Navy will not extend its six Type 45 destroyers, which begin retiring from 2035, with an extra GBP 1.3bn going into the hybrid fleet meant to replace them over the following decade, officials said.
AVIATION NEWS
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.
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.
LAND NEWS
Treasury sets out defence boost funding gap
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has told Parliament how the government will fund the £15bn Defence Investment Plan, reallocating capital budgets across Whitehall and £4.7bn still to be confirmed at the autumn Budget.
Army Wildcat helicopter to be retired
The Army's Wildcat battlefield reconnaissance helicopters will begin leaving service from 2027, with the MoD saying uncrewed systems will take over the job of scouting ahead of friendly lines.
Rutte meets Trump ahead of Ankara NATO summit
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has met US President Donald Trump at the White House to prepare for the alliance's summit in Ankara next month.
Singapore firm to win UK 40mm grenade deal
A Singapore-based manufacturer, ST Engineering Advanced Material Engineering, is to sign a contract worth almost GBP 66 million to supply the British military with 40mm grenades, according to a contract award notice.
British Army fields 10,000 drones in six months
The British Army has invested GBP 300 million in attritable and consumable systems over the past six months, placing 10,000 small drones into soldiers' hands, the UK Defence Journal understands.
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