UK’s New Defence Chief Says Spending Must be Matched by Modernisation

Britain's record defence spending must be matched by rapid military modernisation, the UK's new Secretary of State for Defence, Wes Streeting, told delegates at the AGF Defence Summit during the Farnborough International Airshow.

Speaking on just his second day of office, Streeting argued that investment alone would not be enough to prepare the armed forces for increasingly complex and autonomous warfare.

"Modernisation without investment is impractical, but investment without modernisation is irresponsible," said Streeting.

The speech comes just days after the publication of the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which commits £298 billion over the next four years, including an additional £15 billion above last year's Spending Review settlement. Streeting said the government had already agreed more than £11.8 billion of defence contracts in the ten days since the plan was published, signalling its intention to move quickly from strategy to delivery.

The agreement of the DIP follows a turbulent period in government, with disagreements over defence funding leading to the resignation of Streeting's predecessor, John Healey, after citing that not enough finances were being allocated to defence. Healey is now the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with control over the entire government budget.

Streeting used the Farnborough stage to reassure industry that increased spending would be accompanied by reforms to procurement, investment in autonomous capabilities and a faster pace of delivery.

"My job, as Secretary of State, is to maximise our deterrence, and ensure that should deterrence fail, we have the capability to fight and to win. That means investment."