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Draft:Defence Investment Plan

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The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is the United Kingdom government's defence spending framework, published on 30 June 2026 in the aftermath of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.[1][2][3] It was originally due to be published in autumn 2025, but was delayed for over nine months amid disputes over the size and source of funding.[4][3] Concerns about an earlier version contributed to the resignations of Defence Secretary, John Healey, and Armed Forces Minister, Al Carns, in early June 2026.[5][2][6] The DIP commits £298 billion over four years to 2029–30, including an extra £15 billion of funding, and outlines priorities for a ten‑year horizon to 2035, though detailed funding covers only the first four years.[7][8][2] It targets defence spending of 2.7% of GDP in 2027–28, with a commitment to reach 3% in the next parliament and 3.5% by 2035, the latter in line with a NATO target.[1][2][5] Around £63 billion is allocated to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, including Dreadnought-class submarines, F-35A aircraft, warhead modernisation, and base upgrades, with the nuclear budget ring‑fenced at 20–25% of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) budget.[2][7] Major conventional priorities include more than £8 billion for Tempest, £11 billion for munitions, over £5 billion for drones, and nearly £7.3 billion for a Digital Targeting Web.[2][7] The plan requires £10.7 billion in efficiency savings, retires assets such as 34 Wildcat helicopters, and shifts the Royal Navy towards a "hybrid" fleet with at least £1.3 billion for uncrewed platforms instead of Type 83 destroyers.[2][7][5] Critics highlight a reported £28 billion equipment funding gap, with £4.7 billion unallocated and to be confirmed at the next budget, leaving a shortfall for Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.[2][9][10]

References

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  1. 1 2 Lawless 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mills & Kirk-Wade 2026.
  3. 1 2 Young & Piper 2026.
  4. ↑ Gibbons, Amy (31 May 2026). "Defence investment plan still weeks away, Labour admits". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Stacey & Sabbagh 2026.
  6. ↑ Stacey, Kiran (12 June 2026). "UK's defence plan is underfunded and outdated, says Al Carns after resignation". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Brown & Parker 2026.
  8. ↑ Gardner 2026.
  9. ↑ The Economist 2026.
  10. ↑ Stacey, Kiran; Sabbagh, Dan (30 June 2026). "Burnham left with £4.7bn bill for Starmer's new defence investment plan". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2026.

Works cited

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