10-Point Plan to Rebuild the British Army’s Capabilities with a Defence Budget at 5% of GDP

The UK government has committed to spending 5% of GDP on national security by 2035. However, this target only encompasses 3.5% on core defence, with 1.5% on non-defence resilience measures including infrastructure, energy security, cyber defences, and economic shock absorption.

Although the UK government has claimed that the UK is on a “war footing” it is quite clear that it is anything but, with capabilities still being removed without any replacements even specified, and a failure to invest in long-lead items. This contrasts with the pre-World War 2 government. Between 1933 and 1938, defence spending grew from 2.2% to 6.9% of GDP, but the Army competed with the RAF and Navy for funds. The Treasury’s focus on fiscal stability and resource bottlenecks (capital, labour, technology) limited the pace of Army modernisation. By September 1939, the Army was only partially ready, with significant expansion occurring after the war began. Investments from 1935 laid the groundwork, but the Army’s early defeats (e.g., Dunkirk in 1940) highlighted its initial limitations.

If the UK defence budget was to increase to 5% of GDP, approximately £140 billion annually (based on 2025 UK GDP estimates), the British Army has a transformative opportunity to rebuild its capabilities for modern warfare. This 10-point plan focuses on platforms, weapons, drones, and recruitment/retention to ensure the Army can deter threats, project power, and support NATO and global operations effectively.

1. Modernise Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Objective: Enhance mobility, protection, and lethality of armoured forces.

· Procure 500 new Challenger 3 main battle tanks (MBTs) with upgraded 120mm smoothbore guns and active protection systems, costing £3.125 billion, by 2032.

· Acquire 1,200 Ajax armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) with enhanced sensors and 40mm cannons, costing £6 billion, to replace ageing platforms.

· Develop 500 Boxer wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with modular mission systems, costing £2.5 billion. This ensures a balanced, modern armoured force capable of high-intensity warfare.

2. Expand Artillery Capabilities

Objective: Strengthen long-range precision fires.

· Procure 200 Archer mobile howitzers with 155mm guns, costing £2.5 billion, for rapid deployment and precision strikes by 2030.

· Invest £3 billion in developing hypersonic artillery shells and guided rockets for existing and new systems, deployable by 2035.

· These enhancements provide the Army with superior firepower and deterrence.

3. Enhance Air Defence Systems

Objective: Protect forces from aerial and missile threats.

· Deploy 30 Sky Sabre systems with advanced CAMM-ER missiles, costing £3.75 billion, to counter drones and hypersonic threats.

· Procure 20 mobile laser-based directed-energy weapons (DEWs) for counter-drone and missile defence, costing £1 billion, by 2033.

· Integrate air defence systems with RAF and NATO networks, costing £500 million. This ensures robust protection against evolving air threats. Consideration should also be given to transferring responsibility for UK missile defence to the RAF.

4. Upgrade Infantry Equipment

Objective: Equip soldiers with advanced personal and small-unit systems.

· Provide 50,000 sets of next-generation body armour and integrated soldier systems (e.g., night vision, comms), costing £1.5 billion.

· Procure 30,000 new SA80 A4 rifles with smart optics and suppressors, costing £800 million.

· Deploy 10,000 man-portable anti-tank guided missiles (e.g., NLAW successors), costing £1 billion. These upgrades enhance infantry lethality, survivability, and situational awareness.

5. Integrate Advanced Drone Systems

Objective: Leverage unmanned systems for reconnaissance, strike, and logistics.

· Deploy 1,000 Watchkeeper Mk2 drones for ISR, costing £1.5 billion, integrated with Army command systems.

· Develop 500 combat drones with precision strike capabilities, costing £1.2 billion, for tactical support by 2032.

· Introduce 200 autonomous resupply drones for delivering supplies in contested areas, costing £800 million. Drones will extend operational reach and reduce risks to personnel.

6. Modernise Logistics and Support Vehicles

Objective: Improve mobility and sustainment in austere environments.

· Procure 2,000 new MAN HX3 trucks with enhanced protection and autonomous driving features, costing £2 billion, by 2030.

· Acquire 500 light utility vehicles (e.g., JLTV successors) for rapid response units, costing £500 million. This ensures reliable logistics for global deployments.

7. Advance Cyber and Electronic Warfare

Objective: Protect and disrupt in the digital domain.

· Establish a dedicated Army cyber warfare brigade, costing £1 billion, to defend networks and conduct offensive cyber operations.

· Equip 1,000 vehicles with next-generation electronic warfare systems (e.g., jammers), costing £1.2 billion, to counter enemy communications and drones.

· Develop AI-driven battlefield management systems for real-time decision-making, costing £800 million. These capabilities safeguard Army operations in contested environments.

8. Recruitment and Retention Initiatives

Objective: Build a skilled and sustainable workforce.

· Launch a £700 million recruitment campaign targeting STEM graduates, women, and underrepresented groups, aiming for 90,000 regular and reserve personnel by 2030.

· Offer retention bonuses and improved career paths for engineers, cyber specialists, and combat roles, costing £500 million annually.

· Expand training facilities with virtual reality simulators and urban warfare centres, costing £1.5 billion. A motivated workforce is critical for operational readiness.

9. Strengthen Engineering and Bridging Capabilities

Objective: Enhance mobility and infrastructure support in contested areas.

· Procure 50 Terrier combat engineering vehicles with advanced mine-clearing and bridging systems, costing £1 billion.

· Develop 20 mobile bridging systems for rapid river-crossing operations, costing £500 million.

· Invest £800 million in autonomous engineering drones for construction and obstacle breaching. These capabilities ensure operational mobility in diverse terrains.

10. Foster International Partnerships and Innovation

Objective: Leverage alliances and technology to enhance capabilities.

· Collaborate with NATO allies on joint armoured and artillery development, saving £1 billion through shared R&D costs.

· Invest £2 billion in UK-led R&D for AI, quantum computing, and next-generation materials for vehicles and weapons.

· Establish an Army innovation hub to fast-track technologies like exoskeletons and DEWs, with £1.5 billion over 10 years. International cooperation and innovation will amplify the Army’s global impact.

Budget Allocation Summary

· Armoured vehicles: £11.6 billion

· Artillery: £5.5 billion

· Air defence: £5.3 billion

· Infantry equipment: £3.3 billion

· Drones: £3.5 billion

· Logistics vehicles: £2.5 billion

· Cyber/electronic warfare: £3 billion

· Recruitment/retention: £3.7 billion

· Engineering/bridging: £2.3 billion

· Partnerships/innovation: £4.5 billion

Total: £45.2 billion over 10 years, within the £140 billion annual defence budget at 5% of GDP.

Implementation Timeline

· 2025–2028: Begin procurement of Challenger 3, Ajax, Archer, and recruitment campaigns; start infantry equipment upgrades.

· 2028–2032: Deliver Sky Sabre, combat drones, and logistics vehicles; establish cyber brigade.

· 2032–2035: Commission DEWs, autonomous engineering systems, and new bridging vehicles.

· 2035–2040: Fully integrate hypersonic artillery, AI battlefield systems, and advanced materials.

Conclusion

This 10-point plan revitalises the British Army’s capabilities, ensuring it can meet modern threats, support NATO, and project power globally. By leveraging a 5% GDP defence budget, the Army can modernise its platforms, adopt cutting-edge weapons and drones, and attract top talent, securing its role as a cornerstone of UK national security and international influence.