Story perspectives

UK Boosts Drone Funding, Pushes 3.5% GDP Defence Amid Cuts

7/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

The £298 bn defence plan adds £1.5 bn for drones while cutting projects, prompting criticism.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis urged Prime Minister-designate Andy Burnham to raise spending to 3.5 % of GDP, costing about £25 bn annually.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the NATO summit in Ankara, where the UK’s defence-spending trajectory was examined, while a Russian Bear-F aircraft approached a UK carrier, dropped sonar devices and was intercepted by two UK F-35 jets.

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Story summary

The £298 bn defence plan adds £1.5 bn for drones while cutting projects, prompting criticism.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis urged Prime Minister-designate Andy Burnham to raise spending to 3.5 % of GDP, costing about £25 bn annually.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the NATO summit in Ankara, where the UK’s defence-spending trajectory was examined, while a Russian Bear-F aircraft approached a UK carrier, dropped sonar devices and was intercepted by two UK F-35 jets.