The UK’s 2025 Defence Strategy: Innovation, Procurement, and Strategic Autonomy
The landscape of British defence and security is being reshaped by a confluence of technological acceleration, geopolitical instability, and fiscal ambition. The 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), unveiled in June by the UK Government, marks a decisive step toward rethinking the country’s military posture and procurement architecture. This transformation is not limited to warfighting readiness but extends to economic growth, technological sovereignty, and industrial mobilisation. The integration of cyber capabilities, AI systems, autonomous platforms and modular contracting frameworks signifies a shift from legacy defence thinking to a model more responsive to emerging threats and opportunities. As the UK repositions itself in the Euro-Atlantic theatre, it also aspires to lead on innovation-driven deterrence, with implications for vendors, strategic partners, and institutional stakeholders across the sector.