Sir Keir Starmer has promised a raft of new investment to transform the UK Armed Forces into a “powerful, integrated fighting machine” as part of the government's UK defence review.
The country's prime minister noted that the funds would be directed towards a military that would be “more integrated, more ready and more lethal than ever before.”
As part of the upcoming review, due to be published on Monday, the UK government has pledged £1.5 billion (€1.7 billion) to set up at least six factories and support the purchase of up to 7,000 UK-made long-range weapons.
The move was a response to the review's call for the creation of “permanent” ammunition production capacity that could be rapidly scaled up.
The new funding will see the UK spend £6 billion (€7.2 billion) on munitions over the current parliamentary term and support around 1,800 jobs across the country.
Mr Starmer described the review as a “radical plan” that would drive further investment in shipbuilding, drone technology and cyber defence.
Preparing for tomorrow's threats means “combining every capability available to us – from drones to artillery, human instinct and intelligence – into one powerful, integrated fighting machine,” he wrote in The Sun.
“To achieve this, we are announcing a new wave of investment in our Armed Forces on land, in the air and at sea.”
He added that Labour would end the “shameful devastation” of the armed forces.
“We will invest in a fighting force that is more integrated, more ready and more lethal than ever before, restoring the UK to its true place as a leader in defence and in NATO.
“We will provide the best equipment for our soldiers when they fight overseas so they can use the full range of both traditional and technological capabilities.”
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the government would adopt the review's recommendations and make defence “a driver of economic growth”.
He called on the UK Ministry of Defence to create an industrial base to increase weapons stockpiles to meet the needs of “rapid” operations.
In response to the review, more than £1.5 billion of additional funding will be made available to
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
