This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g2jr1m49no

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines
(about 4 hours later)
An illustration of what an SSN-AUKUS submarine will look likeAn illustration of what an SSN-AUKUS submarine will look like
The UK will build up to 12 new attack submarines, the prime minister will announce as the government unveils its major defence review on Monday. The UK will build "up to" 12 new attack submarines, the prime minister will announce, as the government unveils its major defence review on Monday.
The new conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines will replace the seven-strong Astute class from the late 2030s onwards.
The review is expected to recommend the armed forces move to "warfighting readiness" to deter growing threats faced by the UK.The review is expected to recommend the armed forces move to "warfighting readiness" to deter growing threats faced by the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer will say up to 12 conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines will replace the UK's current fleet from the late 2030s onwards.
The prime minister is also expected to confirm the UK will spend £15bn on its nuclear warhead programme.The prime minister is also expected to confirm the UK will spend £15bn on its nuclear warhead programme.
Sir Keir will say that, alongside the UK's nuclear-armed submarines, the new vessels would keep "Britain and Nato safe for decades".Sir Keir will say that, alongside the UK's nuclear-armed submarines, the new vessels would keep "Britain and Nato safe for decades".
The Strategic Defence Review, commissioned by Labour, will shape the UK's armed forces for years to come. The threat posed by Moscow has been a key part of the government's pitch ahead of Monday's review, led by ex-Labour defence secretary Lord Robertson, which was commissioned by Labour shortly after it took office last July.
Led by ex-Labour defence secretary Lord Robertson it will make 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full. The report will make 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme ahead of its publication, Sir Keir said the danger posed by Russia "cannot be ignored" and the "best way" to deter conflict was to prepare for it.
The government has committed to increasing UK defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by 2027, a move welcomed by opposition parties amid a growing consensus on boosting military expenditure.
But the run-up to the review's release has been dominated by a political row over when UK spending should hit the next milestone of 3%.
The government says it has an "ambition" to hit the target by 2034 at the latest, after the next general election, but the Conservatives say the move - which would hike spending by around £20bn a year - should be met by the end of the decade.
Sir Keir said he would only commit the government to a timescale when he knew how it could be paid for, adding a date would otherwise be "performative".
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said Labour's review should be "taken with a pinch of salt" unless the government showed there would be enough money to pay for it.
The Liberal Democrats have said Labour's 2034 timeline is "far too late" and have suggested an earlier date should be found in cross-party talks.
The party's defence spokesperson Helen Maguire called for a "concrete commitment" on funding to back up the submarines announcement, adding that Labour had left "serious questions" over how the project would be financed.
Other announcements in the review will include:Other announcements in the review will include:
Commitment to £1.5bn to build six new factories to enable an "always on" munitions production capacityCommitment to £1.5bn to build six new factories to enable an "always on" munitions production capacity
Building up to 7,000 long-range weapons including missiles or drones in the UK, to be used by British forcesBuilding up to 7,000 long-range weapons including missiles or drones in the UK, to be used by British forces
Pledge to set up a "cyber and electromagnetic command" to boost the military's defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspacePledge to set up a "cyber and electromagnetic command" to boost the military's defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspace
Extra £1.5bn to 2029 to fund repairs to military housingExtra £1.5bn to 2029 to fund repairs to military housing
£1bn on technology to speed up delivery of targeting information to soldiers£1bn on technology to speed up delivery of targeting information to soldiers
Defence Secretary John Healey has signalled he is not aiming to increase the overall size of the Army before the next general election.Defence Secretary John Healey has signalled he is not aiming to increase the overall size of the Army before the next general election.
On Sunday, he said his "first job" was to reverse a decline in numbers with a target to return to a strength of 73,000 full-time soldiers "in the next Parliament".On Sunday, he said his "first job" was to reverse a decline in numbers with a target to return to a strength of 73,000 full-time soldiers "in the next Parliament".
Building the new submarines will support 30,000 jobs into the 2030s as well as 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next 10 years, the Ministry of Defence said. Submarine plans
Healey said: "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 to face down Russian aggression."
The Astute class is the Royal Navy's current fleet of attack submarines, which have nuclear-powered engines and are armed with conventional torpedoes and missiles.The Astute class is the Royal Navy's current fleet of attack submarines, which have nuclear-powered engines and are armed with conventional torpedoes and missiles.
As well as protecting maritime task groups and gathering intelligence, they protect the Vanguard class of submarines that carry the UK's trident nuclear missiles. As well as protecting maritime task groups and gathering intelligence, they protect the Vanguard class of submarines that carry the UK's Trident nuclear missiles.
In the Astute series, HMS Agamemnon, was launched last October and another is under construction which will take the number of submarines in this class to seven. The sixth submarine in the current Astute series was launched last October, with the seventh, the final one in the series, currently under construction.
The next generation of attack submarines that will replace them, SSN-AUKUS, have been developed with the Australian Navy under a deal agreed in 2023 by the Conservative government. The next generation of attack submarines that will replace them, SSN-AUKUS, have been developed with the Australian Navy under a deal announced in 2021 under the previous Conservative government.
Meanwhile work on modernising the warheads carried by Trident Missiles is already under way. Meanwhile work on modernising the warheads carried by Trident missiles is already under way.
The £15bn investment into the warhead programme will back the government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent.The £15bn investment into the warhead programme will back the government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent.
In his announcement on Monday, Sir Keir is to repeat a Labour manifesto commitment to deliver the Dreadnought class of nuclear-armed submarines, which are due to replace the ageing Vanguard fleet from the early 2030s onwards.In his announcement on Monday, Sir Keir is to repeat a Labour manifesto commitment to deliver the Dreadnought class of nuclear-armed submarines, which are due to replace the ageing Vanguard fleet from the early 2030s onwards.
The MoD's Defence Nuclear Enterprise accounts for 20% of its budget and includes the cost of building four Dreadnought class submarines.The MoD's Defence Nuclear Enterprise accounts for 20% of its budget and includes the cost of building four Dreadnought class submarines.
Rival spending targets
Commitments on military spending come against the background of the government's wider review of departmental spending due later this month and have also taken on renewed importance given the Ukraine war, and pressure from Nato and US President Donald Trump for European countries to step up defence spending.
Sir Keir has committed the government to spending 2.5% of the UK's national income on defence by 2027, up from 2.3%, but has faced pressure to commit to 3%.
Healey said the target will be hit by 2034 but the Conservatives say the threshold should be hit earlier. The Liberal Democrats have also argued for a 3% spending target.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said Labour's review should be "taken with a pinch of salt" unless the government showed there would be enough money to pay for it.
Head of Nato, Mark Rutte has called on allies to spend 3.5% of its GDP on defence, with a further 1.5% on defence related expenditure.
The government has said it wants Britain to be the leading European nation within the Nato alliance but that might prove difficult when a significant number of allies exceed the UK's military spending.
It says its review will reverse decades of underinvestment in Britain's armed forces. But it remains to be seen if the investment will be enough.
The ambitions of past defence reviews have rarely been matched by resources.