Strategic Defence Review

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a vision for long-term transformative and visionary change in Defence over the course of the next decade and beyond. Implementation of the SDR began immediately after the Government endorsed the SDR's 62 recommendations; the delivery of the recommendations remains priority business for the Department and significant progress has been made in the first year of implementation.

Notable achievements include enhancements to warfighting readiness such as launching the Military Intelligence Services, the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit, and the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force – all crucial in maintaining the UK’s security and Defence’s operational effectiveness in an evolving threat environment. The SDR has also driven UK growth and innovation through the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy, procurement and acquisition reforms, setting up UK Defence Innovation and the establishment of associated bodies such as the Defence Industrial Joint Council and Defence Investors Advisory Group. Measures such as these will strengthen Defence’s industrial base, foster innovation, and improve acquisition efficiency to safeguard the UK’s technological edge and economic resilience. Internationally, the launch of the public summary of the UK’s first Defence Diplomacy Strategy and renewed bilateral agreements with key European partners including France, Germany, Poland and Norway have reinforced the UK’s global influence and collaborative security posture.

Longer-term implementation planning will be further refined through the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) process which will deliver the vision set out in the SDR, and which will be published before the NATO summit.