Revealed: The long overdue military blueprint

A new era of warfare was heralded by the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan yesterday, as it laid out Labour's uncosted route to improving the country's security.

Traditional methods of defence, such as ground troops and manned tanks, will make way for crewless systems that have proved to be devastatingly effective in Ukraine.

Through an extra £15billion of spending over four years – bringing defence investment to just 2.68 per cent of GDP by 2030 – the Navy is to be transformed into what the First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins calls 'the Hybrid Navy'. The RAF and Army are to undergo similar transitions.

Spending on 'wider security', meanwhile, will jump to 4.2 per cent of GDP – with this potentially including the drive to Net Zero and tackling small-boat crossings.

Here, the Daily Mail looks at the DIP's main points:

Drones

The DIP's £5billion investment in drones – considered woefully short by Labour MP and reserve Royal Marines officer Al Carns – includes uncrewed systems across land, sea and air domains.

And the futures of the Navy, RAF and Army will be AI-driven.

The Navy's hybrid fleet will include uncrewed missile barges (Type 91) and submarines (Type 93).

Sir Keir Starmer pictured in Berkshire on Tuesday morning ahead the publication of the long-delayed £15billion Defence Investment Plan, which announced a £5billion investment in drones

Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns (pictured) considered the investment proposals woefully short

'Autonomous' seabed warfare systems costing £230million will also be developed to thwart Russian attacks on communication infrastructures.

Warships and submarines

Manned warships will act as motherships for vast fleets of surface and subsurface vessels. To cut costs, the UK has entered shipbuilding programmes with the Netherlands and Norway.

Britain will also deepen its submarine partnerships with the US and Australia as part of the Aukus group's plan to build 'up to 12' nuclear-powered attack subs.

And in a nod to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, £1.3billion will be spent on mine-hunting capabilities. A further £120million will be spent this financial year on high-speed boats.

The Prime Minister announced that spending on 'wider security' will jump to 4.2 per cent of GDP - with this potentially including the drive to Net Zero and tackling small-boat crossings

As part of an overhaul of the Royal Navy, crewed vessels will be accompanied by uncrewed and autonomous platforms, with lessons learned from Ukraine's successful campaign in the Black Sea against the Russian navy incorporated into training plans

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Tanks and helicopters

The £6billion, issue-riddled Ajax armoured vehicle survived – with a further £1billion to be invested to ensure she enters service.

There will be a £150million shift towards uncrewed ground vehicles and £210million to deliver a suite of long-range, one-way munitions and attack drones.

Another £1billion will be spent on the Challenger 3 battle tank and £2.2billion on the 8x8-wheel Boxer all-terrain vehicle.

Nuclear

Some £63.6billion will be spent improving the UK's nuclear deterrent, including 16 more submarines, a replacement for the Mk4 warhead, the creation of a nuclear fuel cycle and improved dock facilities.

The country's nuclear deterrent will be prioritised, including through investment in current and future warheads and submarine programmes, as well as critical infrastructure upgrades.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) will support a supply chain of 6,000 UK-based companies and 65,000 jobs by 2035. The proportion of the defence budget devoted to the DNE is expected to increase to between 20 and 25 per cent.

The DIP said: 'We are building new attack submarines, new ballistic missile submarines, new warheads and new infrastructure as well as a new nuclear fuels programme.

'This work is a national endeavour with central and local government, industry and academia working together to deliver vital programmes'.

The Government will also fund the 'nuclear triple lock' – consisting of four Dreadnought submarines, a nuclear warhead programme and the transformation of manufacturing sites.

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Air defences

Britain's coastline will be beefed up by the Integrated Air and Missile Defence system, with Typhoon and F-35 jets defending the skies.

Counter-drone capabilities will also be supported through £750million being invested in short-range programmes, such as Sky Hammer and Rapid Sentry.

The number of Sky Sabre air defence missile systems will be doubled.

Weapons and munitions

Around £190million will be spent on short-range ballistic missiles and £400million will head towards the Land Lethality Pipeline to develop weapons to enhance the Army's killing power by tenfold.

There will also be a 12 per cent increase in Special Forces funding, though the equipment it will pay for and the precise sum is classified.

The UK Military Intelligence Services will be a 'global leader', according to the DIP, by delivering cutting-edge data and anticipating threats.

Aircraft

The UK is to continue its partnership with Japan and Italy to build the sixth-generation £8billion GCAP stealth jet.

There had been speculation the UK would seek to manoeuvre itself out of the commitment, considering the rising costs and changes to the envisaged role of the Tempest jet.

Apache helicopters will be protected by scores of armed drones flying in formation.

Housing

In a blow to military families, a scheme to regenerate housing has been 'back-ended'.

Repairs to 14,000 ailing properties will take place in the 2030-2035 period, not before.

The delays cover Single Living Accommodation for unmarried personnel.

But £470million will be invested in base security, reflecting the domestic terror threat after break-ins at sites such as RAF Brize Norton.

Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.

The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.

But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.

'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.

'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'

The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.

Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts

But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.

'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.

Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.

'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.

'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.

'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.

'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'

'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.

'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'