High-speed boats and drones: Commandos promised £500m in defence spending overhaul
Britain’s elite commando forces are set to receive a significant £500 million investment as part of a long-awaited overhaul of the country’s defense spending strategy. The revised plan will prioritize high-speed boats and advanced attack drones, with a particular focus on operations in the High North, which includes the Arctic Circle, at a time when Russian activity in the region is escalating.
Since his appointment earlier this month, new Defense Minister Dan Jarvis has refocused the Defense Investment Plan (DIP), shifting the emphasis to equipping frontline troops. Mr Jarvis reportedly secured an additional £1bn in funding for the scheme during negotiations with the Treasury; This surpassed the £13.5 billion bid that led to the resignation of his predecessor, John Healey.
Key priorities in the “revamped” plan to future-proof the armed forces include combat readiness and integrated autonomy, covering equipment such as unmanned aerial vehicles, uncrewed ships and ground vehicles. Officials say part of the funding will be allocated to new high-speed commando deployment ships, which are special ships designed for covert troop transport that can be used in operations such as the capture of Russian shadow fleet tankers.
Nearly £100 million has been allocated to new technologies including crewless ships, “next generation communications” and attack drones. The DIP was originally planned to be released last year but faced delays due to intra-governmental disagreements over military funding.
Mr Healey left his cabinet post earlier this month because the plan would only provide £13.5bn of extra investment, which he said was “quite a bit short” of what was needed.
The Ministry of Defense said the plan would see Britain work with Norway, a NATO ally with whom Russia has partnered due to increased submarine activity in the High North.
The Defense Secretary told the Press Association on Saturday that “real progress” had been made in recent days but that work was continuing to “get it right” ahead of publication, which is expected before July 7.
“I have been working hard since my appointment to satisfy myself that we have the right resource and the right mix of talent,” he said.
“I have a responsibility to make sure I do it right, and I’m working to achieve that.”
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer will continue to publish the Dip ahead of the July 7 NATO summit, despite a wider pause on major policy and spending commitments across Government in preparation for the transition of power in the coming weeks.
The move could potentially cause friction with his potential successor Andy Burnham, who may want to have the final say on the military’s future funding.
Mr Jarvis said plans to prioritize commandos would help provide them with “the equipment they need to stay ahead of our enemies and defend us”.
“The defense investment plan will prioritize getting the latest kit into the hands of our frontline forces so they can continue their vital work in an increasingly dangerous world,” he added.
Mr Jarvis, who served as mayor of Sheffield City District when Mr Burnham was mayor of Manchester, joined other Cabinet ministers in publicly backing the Makerfield MP as the likely next prime minister.
“He was an outstanding mayor of Greater Manchester and I think he will make an excellent prime minister. He understands the importance of national security and making sure we have the right amount of resources to invest in our armed forces,” he said.
“This is certainly an ongoing process, but it is already backed by historic commitments to defense funding.
“Yes, we want to do more and the Dip will deliver that, and yes, we want to go further to the other side of the Dip.
“That was well understood by Andy Burnham. It was well understood by the current Prime Minister. It is my job to serve defense and I work hard to do that.”
