UK unveils £5bn Defence Investment Plan for next-gen drones and AI warfare

The Prime Minister is set to unveil a £5 billion Defence Investment Plan to boost drones and autonomous systems across the UK’s armed forces. The funding will span the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force over the next four years. Sir Keir Starmer will launch the initiative on Tuesday as part of a broader push to modernise military capabilities. The investment will fund a range of cutting-edge technologies. The British Army will develop Project NYX, armed autonomous drones, and Project Corvus, surveillance drones. The Royal Navy’s projects include Common Combat Vessels, uncrewed missile platforms and extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles. Meanwhile, the Royal Air Force will advance its Collaborative Combat Air programme, focusing on autonomous fighter jets.

The plan also funds Europe’s largest drone testing site, the Uncrewed Systems Centre in Swindon. Lessons from recent conflicts, such as drone use in Ukraine and Iran, have shaped the strategy. The capabilities will range from autonomous mine-hunting drones to small quadcopters and low-cost one-way attack drones, with separate programmes tailored to each service.

The goal is to create a flexible, integrated force. This will combine attack drones, RAF jets shielded from enemy detection, and a Royal Navy fleet mixing crewed and uncrewed vessels. The £5 billion funding forms the centrepiece of the Defence Investment Plan. It aims to enhance the UK’s military with advanced autonomous systems and drones. The programme will roll out across all three branches of the armed forces over the next four years.