UK unveils long-delayed defence plan with £5bn drone investment

The UK Government is presenting its long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), confirming an allocation of £5bn ($6.6bn) towards the integration of drones and autonomous systems in the armed forces over the next four years.

This is the largest ever drone investment in UK Armed Forces, according to a Ministry of Defence (MoD) release on 29 June 2026.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation on 22 June 2026, outlined how a new defence investment will accelerate the adoption of drones and autonomous systems across the UK’s Armed Forces, aiming to enhance national security in the coming years.

Starmer made the drone investment announcement during a major speech at a British defence firm on 30 June, as he unveils the DIP.

The new plan’s release follows a period of anticipation, with officials citing the need to adapt Britain’s defences to new military realities demonstrated by recent conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Iran.

The £5bn investment will see drones and autonomous systems introduced throughout the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force.

Attack drones will operate alongside Army helicopters, while the Royal Navy will combine uncrewed and crewed vessels, and the Royal Air Force will expand the use of drones to support traditional aircraft with enhanced stealth and electronic warfare capabilities.

A portion of the investment supports the recently opened Uncrewed Systems Centre in Swindon, billed as Europe’s largest drone testing facility.

Funding will also establish an Uncrewed Systems Taskforce, set to work with industry partners to speed up the development and fielding of autonomous technologies.

The MoD said this would accelerate equipping military personnel with the latest equipment and boost domestic manufacturing of defence systems.

The introduction of drones is expected to bolster Britain’s Armed Forces and generate thousands of jobs across the UK, it stated.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This game-changing investment will strengthen our Armed Forces on land, at sea and in the air, ensuring our servicemen and women have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to deter evolving threats and keep the British people safe.

“Today’s Defence Investment Plan will help drive growth across the UK, giving our industrial base the confidence, certainty and support it needs to develop and scale the technologies that will keep our country safe and secure long into the future.”

Several Army projects will benefit from the investment, including a £50m boost to the RAPSTONE programme, aimed at expanding the supply of first person view and interceptor drones.

Further efforts will support the rapid development of uncrewed ground vehicles and mission systems using UK industrial expertise.

By 2030, Project NYX intends to introduce up to 24 autonomous armed drones that will support upgraded Apache helicopters, with Project Corvus set to replace legacy reconnaissance drones through the deployment of up to 24 new surveillance aircraft.

For the Royal Navy, the plan includes new high-speed boats and advanced drone technologies for specialised forces such as the Commandos.

At least six new warships are also planned for the Royal Navy, expected to bolster maritime air defence and sustain work for British shipyards into future decades.

Within the Royal Air Force, the Collaborative Combat Air initiative will develop autonomous fighter jets to complement crewed aircraft, with a demonstrator flight expected by 2030.

The Storm Shroud electronic warfare drone is scheduled for service entry this year.

“The Defence Investment Plan will prioritise growing sovereign British AI and autonomous technology, drawing on the UK’s world-leading research base – collaborating with key allies and positioning Britain to export cutting-edge defence capabilities internationally,” the MoD stated.