Media: UK may be unable to procure new weapons

The United Kingdom may be unable to purchase new weapons until 2030 due to a lack of funding, former head of the UK Armed Forces’ Strategic Command Richard Barrons (who held the post from 2013 to 2016) told The Times.

A co-author of the Strategic Defence Review adopted in June 2025 said that the UK Armed Forces can only theoretically “think about” preparing for war—in reality, there is no money for new weapons. Funding is barely sufficient for tanks, helicopters, and artillery, but not for largely autonomous systems such as loitering munitions, drones, and AI-enabled capabilities.

According to him, since the publication of the review, the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) has slipped “backwards” in military financing. Barrons warned that insufficient investment is “depleting the industrial base” and forcing defence companies to move production abroad.

“There is no money now and there may not be any money for four years and so a lot of technologically brilliant companies have followed the money to Germany and Poland or to the US and what that means is we are at risk of actually depleting the industrial base,” he added.

The 144-page document, adopted on June 2, 2025, outlines the main threats facing the country, recommendations for improving military readiness, and an assessment of the current state of the UK Armed Forces. The review, prepared from July 2024, was authored by a group including former NATO Secretary General George Robertson, Richard Barrons, former Senior Director for Russia at the White House National Security Council, Fiona Hill, as well as government and independent experts.

By Vugar Khalilov