How much is the UK spending on counter-drone systems?

The UK Defence Investment Plan earmarks approximately £1.8 billion (around $2.34 billion) for counter-UAS systems. This covers the Digital Targeting Web's C-UAS components, base protection, Royal Navy vessel defences, and expanded interceptor stockpiles. Of this, £790 million specifically targets aerial, drone, and missile threats.

What is the UK's Digital Targeting Web?

The Digital Targeting Web is an AI-driven platform receiving nearly £2 billion in investment. It integrates sensors, commanders, and weapons systems to speed up decision-making and shorten the time from detecting a target to engaging it. £790 million within this programme is dedicated to countering air, drone, and missile threats.

When will the UK's new munitions factories be ready?

The UK government plans to establish at least six new explosives and munitions factories by 2030 as part of an additional £11 billion weapons and stockpile investment. These facilities aim to substantially increase domestic ammunition production capacity to support long-range strike weapons, cruise missiles, and one-way attack drones.

UK Announces Defence Investment Plan with Over $2.3 Billion Earmarked for Counter-Drone Systems

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a new Defence Investment Plan allocating approximately £1.8 billion ($2.34 billion) to counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems. The plan covers a Digital Targeting Web, base protection at home and abroad, Royal Navy vessel defences, and expanded interceptor stockpiles. A separate commitment of over £5 billion ($6.5 billion) targets drone and autonomous weapons development, while nearly £2 billion will fund AI-driven targeting infrastructure.

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Highlights

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Defence Investment Plan allocates £1.8 billion ($2.34 billion) to counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems across four programme areas.

Over £5 billion ($6.5 billion) is committed to drone and autonomous weapons development, including attack drones to operate alongside Apache helicopters.

The Digital Targeting Web will receive nearly £2 billion in funding, with £790 million ($1.04 billion) specifically designated to counter air, drone, and missile threats using AI-driven software.

An additional £11 billion has been announced to replenish UK weapons stockpiles, including low-cost cruise missiles and one-way attack drones.

The UK government will build at least six new explosives and munitions factories by 2030 to boost national ammunition production capacity.

UK to Spend Over $2.3 Billion Bolstering Counter-Drone Defences

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has formally unveiled a new Defence Investment Plan that includes an estimated £1.8 billion (approximately $2.34 billion) in counter-UAS (C-UAS) spending. The funding spans C-UAS components within the new Digital Targeting Web programme, upgraded protection for domestic and overseas bases, new counter-drone defences aboard Royal Navy vessels, and expanded interceptor munitions and weapons stockpiles.

Over $6.5 Billion for Drones and Autonomous Weapons

The plan commits more than £5 billion (approximately $6.5 billion) to drone and autonomous weapons development, with counter-drone expenditure distributed across several programme lines.

For the British Army, the plan envisages attack drones operating alongside Apache helicopters, a new fleet of reconnaissance UAVs conducting intelligence-gathering and target-acquisition missions, and a significant increase in low-cost one-way attack drones, long-range missiles, armoured vehicles, and counter-drone defence systems.

Nearly £2 Billion for the Digital Targeting Web

The government will invest close to £2 billion (approximately $2.6 billion) to build the Digital Targeting Web, an AI-driven software platform that integrates sensors, commanders, and weapons systems to accelerate decision-making and shorten the time from target detection to engagement. Of this total, £790 million (approximately $1.04 billion) is specifically designated to counter aerial threats, missiles, and drones.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the £790 million investment will "enhance the protection of UK bases at home and overseas against air, drone, and missile threats," with funds directed towards new command-and-control centres, radar systems, and sensor networks.

The statement added: "We will also invest in Directed Energy Weapons, upgrade the Sea Viper air defence system on Type 45 destroyers, expand counter-drone systems, and establish a new integrated air, space, and missile defence operations centre."

At Least Six New Munitions Factories by 2030

On the weapons and munitions front, the government announced an additional £11 billion to replenish UK stockpiles and ensure forces have "the right mix of capabilities to strike a range of targets, including long-range strike weapons, low-cost cruise missiles, and one-way effectors."

"By 2030, we will establish at least six new explosives and munitions factories, substantially increasing the nation's ammunition production capacity," the statement said.

Editor's note: The $2.34 billion figure represents a conservative estimate of C-UAS-specific spending derived from the four programme areas described above.

UK Announces Defence Investment Plan with Over $2.3 Billion Earmarked for Counter-Drone Systems

Highlights

UK to Spend Over $2.3 Billion Bolstering Counter-Drone Defences

Over $6.5 Billion for Drones and Autonomous Weapons

Nearly £2 Billion for the Digital Targeting Web

At Least Six New Munitions Factories by 2030

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