Associated Press
• JILL LAWLESS
UK Defence Investment Plan boosts counter-UAS and GCAP funding, shifting air power toward uncrewed systems
The UK’s newly announced Defence Investment Plan under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calls for GBP38.6 billion in earmarked funding for GCAP through 2026, alongside an estimated GBP1.8 billion (US$2.34 billion) for counter-UAS systems. The package prioritizes uncrewed procurement and a national CCA programme, but accelerates hard choices including earlier helicopter retirements and uncertainty over future ISR capability.
