The United Kingdom is increasing spending on weapons purchasing

18 July, 2023 Starstreak and Martlet MANPADS at the Thales UK office in Belfast. Photo by Thales UK The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom plans to increase spending to purchase weapons to build up stockpiles.

The website of the British government announced this. The country's armed forces are targeting a global response force for operational deployment in Europe. The United Kingdom is increasing defense spending by GBP2.5 billion to build up the stockpile.

Stock replenishment is one of the key directions. Aid to Ukraine created large gaps in the British reserves. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish stocks and create a separate reserve.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom holds a missile from an NLAW ATGM.

Photo credits: MoD UK

The Ministry of Defense has already concluded a contract to supply 155-mm artillery ammunition, a large amount of which was transferred to Ukraine. A GBP280 million order for the production of ammunition was sent to BAE Systems. Thales UK is also replenishing depleted stocks of NLAWs.

The idea behind the concept of a global response force is to rapidly deploy all three branches of the military in a likely theater of war. In addition, the release touches upon increased spending on research and defense, changes in the ministry's relationship with industry, increased industrial capacity to provide strategic reserves, and increased investment in the development of artificial intelligence.

Production of Ajax AFVs. Photo from the network

Militarnyi previously reported that former UK soldiers will be called on to join the reserves as part of a major overhaul of the military that will shrink the Army to its smallest size.

The changes are expected to be announced alongside confirmation of government plans to reduce the size of the Army to 73,000 troops.

The British Government is also proposing to slash the number of tanks operated by the UK forces.

At the same time, Britain abandoned plans to decommission the Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, referring to the lessons of the war in Ukraine.