Royal Navy's attack submarine fleet being expanded to up to 12 boats under SDR
The UK is to build up to 12 attack submarines as part of the Aukus programme, the Prime Minister is due to announce.
Sir Keir Starmer is due to say the Royal Navy's conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet will be significantly expanded under the Strategic Defence Review.
As part of the SDR, the Government will also be spending £1.5bn building at least six new munitions factories and thousands more long-range weapons, bolstering the UK's defence and deterrence.
Taking lessons from Ukraine, the SDR recommends creating an "always on" munitions production capacity in the UK, allowing production to be scaled up at speed if needed. It says the MOD should also lay the industrial foundations for an uplift in munitions stockpiles to meet the demand of high-tempo warfare. The externally-led Strategic Defence Review is expected to recommend that the Armed Forces move to warfighting readiness to deter the growing threats faced by the UK.
The report makes 62 recommendations, which the Government is expected to accept in full, including:
:: A shift in deterrence and defence: moving to warfighting readiness to deter threats and strengthen security in the Euro Atlantic area
:: Increasing stockpiles of munitions and support equipment, ensuring that production capacities can rapidly scale up in response to crises or war
:: The procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons for the UK Armed Forces, supporting around 800 defence jobs, and boosting our military capabilities
:: A new CyberEM Command to put the UK at the forefront of cyber operations, alongside £1bn investment in pioneering digital capability
:: Improving the lives of thousands of British military personnel and their families through more than £1.5 billion of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing
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