UK Defence Review to Send ‘Message to Moscow’ as Britain Boosts Military Investment

Defence Secretary John Healey says the UK’s upcoming defence review will send a “clear message to Moscow,” warning that Russia is launching daily cyber-attacks on British military systems.

Speaking ahead of the review’s official release on Monday, Healey told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the UK is facing a “new era of threat”, with the report set to highlight the “immediate and pressing” danger from Russia, as well as growing concerns about China.

£1.5 Billion Investment in UK Munitions Industry

As part of the review, the government has committed to spending £1.5 billion to build six new factories for munitions production. The plan aims to strengthen Britain’s defence manufacturing capacity and help address longstanding concerns about ammunition shortages.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), total munitions spending will rise to £6 billion during the current parliament. The move is also expected to create 1,800 jobs across the country.

“This is a message to Moscow,” Healey said during a visit to a weapons factory in Stevenage. “This is Britain standing behind making our Armed Forces stronger and our industrial base more secure.”

Long-Range Weapons and Readiness

The investment includes plans to procure up to 7,000 long-range weapons, including drones and missiles, over the next few years. The goal is to establish an “always-on” production capability that can be scaled up in wartime.

Senior military leaders have long warned that the UK could run out of ammunition quickly in a conflict. In one 2021 wargame scenario, the British Army's supplies were exhausted within eight days.

Former British Army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders recently described the UK's current stockpiles as “alarming”, and warned of the need to urgently rebuild capacity.

Cyber Threats and New Command Structure

The review will also recommend the creation of a “cyber and electromagnetic command” to lead the UK’s defensive and offensive cyber operations. Healey confirmed that the military had suffered 90,000 cyber attacks over the last two years.

This new unit will work alongside the existing National Cyber Force, and will be responsible for tasks like disrupting enemy command systems, jamming drone signals, and intercepting military communications.

“We face cyber attacks from Russia every day,” Healey warned, pointing to an urgent need to modernise Britain’s digital defences.

Defence Spending and Army Numbers

The review confirms plans for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027, up from the current 2.3%. Healey also reiterated Labour’s ambition to reach 3% by 2034, a target criticised by opposition parties as too slow.

The Conservatives have pushed for the 3% figure to be reached earlier, while the Liberal Democrats called Labour’s timeline “a complete lack of urgency.”

Healey acknowledged that rebuilding the military, especially personnel numbers, would take time. He hopes to return the Army to 73,000 full-time soldiers “in the next Parliament,” but did not commit to an immediate increase.

“My first job is to stop the decline in numbers we’ve seen under the previous government,” he said.

Nuclear Capability and U.S. Aircraft Talks

Healey declined to confirm reports that the UK is in talks to purchase American-made aircraft capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons. According to the Sunday Times, such a move would expand Britain’s nuclear launch options, which currently rely on submarine-based systems.

While not confirming the details, Healey defended the UK’s nuclear posture:

“Maintaining a nuclear capability is the ultimate guarantee of security, and it’s what [Vladimir] Putin fears most,” he said.

Former UK Cabinet Secretary Sir Simon Case added that diversifying nuclear delivery systems would give the UK more “resilience and flexibility”, noting that Britain is unusual among nuclear powers in relying on a single launch method.