On June 1st, local time, reporters obtained information from the British Prime Minister's Office that when the British government released a new round of "Strategic Defense Review Report" on the 2nd, it would announce a substantial expansion of its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet and accelerate the modernization of the military industry. This move has been widely interpreted by the outside world as Britain entering a state of "war preparation" in the context of intensifying geosecurity pressure.

Build 12 new attack nuclear submarines and invest an additional £15 billion in nuclear weapons

According to content announced by the British government, the UK will build up to 12 new "SSN-AUKUS" attack nuclear submarines in the future to replace the existing "Astute-class" submarines.

At the same time, the British government also confirmed that it will invest an additional 15 billion pounds in the sovereign nuclear warhead project to upgrade the nuclear weapons facility at Aldermaston to ensure the continuation of the UK's "continuous maritime nuclear deterrence" capability.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that national security will be a core pillar of his "change plan" and that this series of measures will "make the UK safer at home and stronger globally."

The new British plan calls for accelerating the development of the military industry and boosting employment

According to the plan, the UK will also significantly expand its submarine production bases in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby, and build a new nuclear submarine every 18 months in the future. According to the plan, relevant military industry investment will directly create 30,000 high-skilled jobs across the country, and create 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate positions in the next ten years.

In addition to nuclear submarines, the British government also announced that it will purchase up to 7,000 locally manufactured long-range weapons to further enhance its arms inventory and support approximately 800 jobs. At the same time, the "CyberEM Cyber ​​Command" was newly established and an additional 1 billion pounds was used to develop digital military capabilities and enhance the British military's combat capabilities in cyberspace.

British military strategy shifts to comprehensive "war preparation"

This "Strategic Defense Review Report" is led by external experts and is expected to put forward 62 reform recommendations, all of which have been adopted by the government. The core objective is to move the British Armed Forces from traditional deterrence to full "war readiness".

In addition, the report also proposes:

• Increase inventories of ammunition and logistical equipment;

• Build a “ready to mobilize” arms production system;

• £150m of funding to improve housing conditions for military families.

The British government also plans to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP in 2027, and to 3% if conditions permit.