The UK is set to lead a major European defence initiative that will see around a dozen NATO allies invest $50 billion (£37 billion) in advanced long-range missile capabilities over the next decade, the Government has announced.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to launch the programme alongside partner nations at the NATO summit in Ankara. In an unusual move, Downing Street published the announcement in both English and Russian.
The initiative aims to strengthen NATO’s long-range precision strike capabilities by developing weapons capable of hitting targets from at least 300 kilometres away to, in some cases, beyond 2,000 kilometres with high accuracy.
Downing Street said the programme will place deep precision strike at the heart of NATO’s defence agenda next year while encouraging European allies to share technology, industrial expertise and defence innovation.
Starmer said: “I am determined to ensure the safety of the UK and our Allies and to do that, we must step up to deliver a stronger, more European NATO.”
He added: “The UK is already working with partners to develop exquisite capability that will give our Armed Forces the ability to defend and deter thousands of kilometres from the front line, but this UK-led initiative will allow us to step up our cooperation, bringing European Allies together to ensure NATO remains safe and secure for years to come.”
The Government pointed to Ukraine’s successful use of long-range strikes against logistics hubs deep behind Russian lines as evidence of the strategic value of such weapons.
The announcement also brings together Britain’s existing long-range weapons programmes under a single European framework.
These include a £3 billion investment in long-range strike capabilities through the Defence Investment Plan, including £770 million over four years for a joint stealth and hypersonic weapons programme with Germany under the Trinity House agreement. The project is expected to deliver ground-launched missiles with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometres during the 2030s.
The UK has also committed £1.4 billion to the Stratus missile programme, a joint project with France and Italy that will replace Storm Shadow and support more than 1,300 jobs at MBDA facilities in Stevenage and Bolton.
In addition, Britain is joining the US and Australia in developing the Precision Strike Missile, providing the British Army with a supersonic ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometres away.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said: “We are building the weapons of the future to keep the UK and NATO secure for decades to come, backed by billions of pounds and working with our closest European allies.”
“Our new suite of deep precision strike weapons will give our forces the ability to strike targets hundreds of kilometres away with great accuracy, strengthening NATO and deterring our adversaries.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the programme sends “a clear message to President Putin; NATO is stronger, more European and ready to defend our citizens against the long-term threat posed by him and the Russian state.”
Downing Street also highlighted the growing security challenges posed by Russia, noting that NATO aircraft have intercepted more than 700 Russian military flights approaching allied airspace over the past two years, while Russian military activity around UK waters has increased by 30%.
The Government stressed that while NATO does not seek confrontation with Russia, the alliance must remain prepared to defend all member states.
