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Defence

Asked by Stuart AndersonConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 21453

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 12 of the Strategic Defence review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made towards the UK being ready to fight and win.

Answered by Ministry of Defence

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to providing greater options for deterrence and retaliation to aggression and sets out the Government’s focus on increasing the readiness and lethality of our Armed Forces.

The DIP is also increasing the Armed Forces’ ability to deter and, if required, fight and win. We are investing in autonomous and uncrewed systems, long-range missiles, artificial intelligence, armoured vehicles, and precision strike capabilities. Key examples include more than £5 billion for autonomous systems, £1.8 billion for the Digital Targeting Web to connect sensors, decision-makers and weapons across domains, and further investment in Project ASGARD to expand the Army’s recce-strike capability.

Taken together, these measures will make the Armed Forces more ready to deploy, more lethal in combat, and better protected against the threats they are most likely to face.

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