Britain Unveils Defense Plan Built Around Drones and Uncrewed Vehicles

Britain set out a defense plan on Tuesday that places drones, self-flying fighter jets, and uncrewed submarines at the center of its future military, prioritizing about 5 billion pounds, or 6.6 billion dollars, of investment, according to the South China Morning Post. The plan reflects a judgment that cheap, autonomous technology has transformed warfare, a lesson drawn directly from the war in Ukraine.

The shift comes as the United States speeds up the withdrawal of its forces from Europe, leaving European governments to provide those forces themselves. The human cost of the war that is reshaping these military plans remains visible in daily life, as a New York Times account of a school prom in Kyiv marked by loss showed.

For European industry, the plan signals sustained demand for unmanned systems and a shift away from the crewed platforms that dominated procurement for decades.