The UK Government will construct up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest £15 billion into the country’s nuclear warhead programme, as part of a significant overhaul of national defence policy.
The announcement is set to be made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, during the Government’s Strategic Defence Review. The plan includes the next phase of the AUKUS security partnership between the UK, the United States, and Australia, which will see a new generation of SSN-AUKUS class submarines replace the current Astute-class fleet from the late 2030s.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the programme is expected to create 30,000 highly skilled jobs, along with 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the UK over the coming decade.
The £15 billion earmarked for the warhead programme will support the continued operation of the UK’s continuous-at-sea deterrent, fund the construction of new Dreadnought-class submarines, and modernise warhead infrastructure on British soil.
Defence Secretary: “We Must Act Decisively”
Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the move reflects the growing need to counter global threats, particularly Russian aggression.
“Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively,” he said. “With new state-of-the-art submarines and a strengthened warhead programme, we are delivering on our plan to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.”
The Strategic Defence Review outlines a broad range of additional commitments, including:
- Procurement of up to 7,000 domestically manufactured long-range missiles, expected to sustain 800 jobs.
- Creation of a new cyber command, backed by a £1 billion investment in digital innovation.
- Over £1.5 billion to upgrade service accommodation for military personnel.
- Enhanced military readiness, increased weapons stockpiles, and scalable production capabilities to meet wartime demands.
Spending Commitment Under Scrutiny
While Labour has pledged to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2034, questions remain about whether the Treasury has formally committed to the target.
John Healey has said there is “no doubt” the Government will reach the target, but during an appearance on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he declined to confirm whether funding had been guaranteed. He also acknowledged that challenges in recruitment and retention mean armed forces numbers are unlikely to grow before the next Parliament.
“We’ve narrowed the gap, but we’ve still got more people leaving than joining,” he said. “The first job is to reverse that trend, and then I want to see our ability to start increasing the numbers.”
Opposition Response
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge criticised the Labour Government’s defence pledges, calling them inconsistent and unconvincing.
“All of Labour’s Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them,” Cartlidge said. “Just days ago, John Healey promised 3% spending, and now he’s already backtracking.”
He added that with the submarines not expected to enter service until the late 2030s, Labour’s lack of a clear and funded roadmap undermines long-term credibility.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Helen Maguire welcomed the strategic intent but questioned the Government’s urgency.
“This signals the right intent in the face of Putin’s imperialism and Trump’s unpredictability,” she said. “But without a firm commitment to fully fund these projects, the plan risks becoming a damp squib.”
Maguire also criticised the 2034 timeline, urging the Government to accelerate progress and engage in cross-party discussions to reach the 3% spending target sooner.
