Move FM Global News

LONDON, UK: As global tensions rise and Europe’s defense posture shifts, the UK is ramping up its military readiness with a 1.5 billion pound plan to build new weapons and explosives factories.

The announcement comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to unveil a sweeping review of Britain’s military capabilities. This review is part of a broader push to strengthen the nation’s defense in response to what he called “direct threats” from adversarial states.

“We are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, so we must be ready to fight and win,” Starmer wrote in The Sun on June 1, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its ties with Iran and North Korea.

Defence Minister John Healey framed the new munitions investment as both a signal to Moscow and an economic stimulus. Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, he described the move as “a message to Moscow” and highlighted its potential to energize the UK’s defense sector.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the plan includes the construction of at least six new factories to produce long-range weapons, with the goal of acquiring up to 7,000 British-built munitions. The new funding will raise total UK munitions spending to £6 billion during the current parliamentary term.

The Strategic Defence Review, commissioned by Starmer’s Labour government after it took office last July, will outline national security threats and set priorities for new equipment and services. The review is expected to respond to warnings from allies—particularly the U.S.—that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its security.

Starmer has pledged to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, with a longer-term goal of reaching three percent.

In addition to conventional arms, the government has previously committed 1 billion pounds toward artificial intelligence development for military use, aiming to improve battlefield decision-making. Another 1.5 billion pounds has been allocated to improve substandard housing for members of the armed forces.

The Sunday Times reported that Britain is also eyeing the purchase of U.S.-made fighter jets capable of deploying tactical nuclear weapons, though the MoD has not confirmed the report.