Defence Secretary John Healey said the war in Ukraine revealed how “a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind it.”
The United Kingdom has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its defence strategy, which includes the construction of six new weapons factories and a £1.5 billion boost to improve military housing. The sweeping changes, to be outlined in the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR), signal a shift towards a more agile, better-equipped, and strategically prepared Armed Forces as the country responds to mounting global threats, particularly from Russia.
At the heart of the plan is a £1.5 billion investment to create a robust “always-on” weapons manufacturing pipeline. These new munitions and energetics factories will support the production of up to 7,000 long-range UK-built weapons, significantly bolstering the country’s industrial defence base. The move follows lessons drawn from Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s invasion, underlining the need for sustained munitions production and greater self-reliance in times of conflict.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the war in Ukraine revealed how “a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind it.” He emphasised that the new facilities would not only enhance the UK’s deterrence capabilities but also inject vitality into the domestic economy, supporting 1,800 jobs across the country. Overall, defence spending on UK munitions is expected to reach £6 billion during this Parliament.
“We are strengthening Britain’s industrial base to better deter our adversaries and ensure that the UK is secure at home and strong abroad,” Healey said. “This is about ensuring we are never caught unprepared, and that our forces always have the equipment and ammunition they need.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves echoed the sentiment, describing the initiative as a “dual investment in security and prosperity.” She said the government’s approach proves that “a strong economy needs a strong national defence,” with weapons manufacturing acting as both a strategic and economic asset.
The SDR, a 130-page document to be unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, sets out the current and emerging threats facing the UK. Chief among these is Russia, described as posing an “immediate and pressing danger” to Europe’s stability. The review draws extensively on the lessons from Ukraine and calls for faster adaptability, increased stockpiles, and greater industrial readiness to face the potential of “high-tempo” warfare.
Beyond military hardware, the government is pledging a parallel investment of £1.5 billion to improve living conditions for service personnel and their families. A major part of this investment will be directed toward urgent repairs to thousands of military homes — including fixing broken boilers, leaky roofs, damp, and mould — as well as the construction of new housing across the UK.
The renewed focus on forces’ welfare builds on a wider government strategy to modernise defence accommodation. This includes the launch of the new Defence Consumer Charter, which guarantees higher move-in standards, access to essential property information, reliable repair services, and the assignment of a named housing officer for every family. A robust complaints system is also being introduced to enhance accountability.
Healey, who visited military housing in Cambridgeshire ahead of the announcement, said too many families have been forced to endure “substandard homes for years” despite their sacrifices. “This government is taking decisive action to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve,” he said. “We’re investing and acting fast, delivering homes fit for our heroes.”
The accommodation upgrade follows the government’s landmark agreement to return 36,000 military homes to public ownership, ensuring better oversight and accountability in the maintenance of forces housing.
Meanwhile, the SDR, written by former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, ex-US presidential adviser Fiona Hill, and former joint force commander General Sir Richard Barrons, paints a stark picture of the current defence posture. It warns that the UK faces the most acute military and security threats since the Cold War, amid rising cyber threats and Russian sabotage campaigns.
While the review is not expected to propose immediate increases in defence spending, it reaffirms Starmer’s February pledge to raise the defence budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, and to 3% in the next Parliament.
The armed forces continue to face recruitment challenges, with recent figures revealing that the number of full-time trained soldiers has dropped to 70,860 — the lowest level in modern history. The government hopes that improved pay and living conditions, alongside investments in training and equipment, will help reverse this trend and strengthen morale.
The SDR, due for release next week, sets a long-term path for defence modernisation — aiming to end the “hollowing out” of the UK’s armed forces and establish defence as an engine of growth, resilience, and global leadership in an increasingly unstable world.
