Held in November 2025 against a backdrop of intensifying geopolitical instability, the Make UK Defence Summit gathered key military and industry stakeholders to operationalize the UK’s newly published Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy. This report details a sector-wide pivot toward "warfighting readiness," characterized by urgent procurement reforms, a "NATO First" doctrine, and substantial investments in sovereign capabilities and workforce skills. By bridging the gap between high-level policy and industrial output, the summit established a roadmap for a resilient, "always-on" defence sector capable of meeting the demands of modern high-intensity conflict.
Date: November 12–13, 2025
Location: Whittlebury Park, Northamptonshire
1. Executive Summary
The Make UK Defence Summit 2025 served as a pivotal gathering for the British defence sector, taking place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical instability and significant shifts in national policy. The event focused heavily on interpreting and operationalizing the findings of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) published in June 2025 and the Defence Industrial Strategy released in September 2025. The summit brought together government ministers, military leaders, and industry executives (Primes and SMEs) to align on a vision of "warfighting readiness" and industrial resilience.
2. Strategic Context
The summit was defined by the "new era of threat" outlined in the SDR 2025. Key contextual drivers included:
- The "NATO First" Policy: A strategic pivot placing the UK's commitment to NATO at the core of its defence planning.
- SDR Outcomes: The review's 62 recommendations, including a move to a "Integrated Force Model" combining conventional capabilities with AI and autonomy.
- Fiscal Commitments: The government's roadmap to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a longer-term ambition of 3%.
3. Key Themes & Agenda Highlights
A. Warfighting Readiness & Industrial Resilience
The primary theme was shifting the UK industrial base to a "wartime pace." Discussions centered on:
- Supply Chain Security: Ensuring sovereign capability in critical areas like munitions and energetics.
- "Always On" Production: Moving away from "boom and bust" procurement to continuous production lines, exemplified by the £6 billion investment in munitions and new factories.
B. Procurement Reform
A major focus was reforming the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) acquisition process, which was criticized for being overly complex.
- New Acquisition Model: Introduction of a segmented approach to speed up contracts:
- Major Platforms: Target reduction from 6 years to 2 years.
- Modular Upgrades: Target reduction from 3 years to 1 year.
- Rapid Tech: Target cycle of 3 months.
- SME Engagement: Specific panels addressed breaking down barriers for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to enter the supply chain, supported by a new "Defence Growth Deals" fund (£250m).
C. Technology & Innovation
The summit highlighted the role of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) and the need to rapidly field new technologies.
- Hybrid Forces: Integrating uncrewed systems with traditional platforms (e.g., a "hybrid Royal Navy" air wing).
- Digital Backbone: A £1 billion investment in a "Digital Targeting Web" to connect sensors and effectors across domains by 2027.
4. Key Announcements & Investments
- Skills Strategy: Launch of a £182 million Defence Skills Strategy to address workforce shortages and encourage transfers from other sectors.
- Export Support: Establishment of a new Office for Defence Exports to boost government-to-government sales.
- Nuclear Enterprise: Confirmation of a £15 billion investment in the sovereign warhead programme and continuous submarine production at Barrow and Raynesway.
5. Key Speakers
- Luke Pollard MP: Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Keynote on implementation of SDR vision).
- Rupert Pearce: UK National Armaments Director (Address on procurement reform).
- Jim Carter: Director General Commercial and Industry, MOD.
- Andrew Kinniburgh: Director-General, Make UK Defence.
6. Conclusion
The Make UK Defence Summit 2025 marked a transition from policy formulation to industrial mobilization. The event underscored that the "peace dividend" era is over, replaced by a requirement for a robust, responsive industrial base capable of supporting high-intensity warfare. For industry participants, the clear message was that while funding is increasing, it comes with higher expectations for speed, efficiency, and delivery.
UK Defence Spending & Procurement Outlook
(2026–2031)
The Fiscal Reality: Ambition Meets Friction
As the UK government pivots to operationalize the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) faces a critical five-year period. While the "peace dividend" is officially declared over, the transition to a war-footing economy is colliding with fiscal drag, inflationary pressures, and the immense capital demands of the nuclear enterprise.
1. The Budgetary Trajectory: Reaching 2.5%
The government has committed to a "NATO First" spending floor, with a confirmed path to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027 and an ambition for 3% by 2030.
- 2025/26 Baseline: £62.2 billion (approx. 2.3% GDP).
- 2028/29 Projection: £73.5 billion (hitting the 2.6% mark when including intelligence spending).
- The "New Money" Reality: While the headline increase is £13.3bn over three years, a significant portion is absorbed by inflation and existing commitments rather than new conventional capabilities.
2. The "Nuclear Eater" Effect
The single largest pressure on the defence budget remains the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). The replacement of the Vanguard class submarines with the Dreadnought class and the sovereign warhead programme is currently consuming ~38–43% of the total capital budget.
- Impact: This "ring-fenced" spending squeezes the "conventional" budget (Army vehicles, RAF logistical support, Navy surface fleet), leaving little room for error in non-nuclear procurement.
3. The "Black Hole" & Efficiency Gamble
Despite the funding boost, the National Audit Office (NAO) signaled in late 2025 that the Equipment Plan deficit (the gap between planned buying and available cash) remains approximately £16.9bn over 10 years.
- The Government's Fix: The deficit is being tackled through a target of £6bn in efficiency savings by 2029—a historically difficult target to hit.
- Risk: If these efficiency savings (e.g., reducing civil servants, digitizing supply chains) do not materialize, programmes will be cut or delayed to balance the books.
4. Procurement Reform: The "Spiral" Test
The SDR 2025 introduced a radical shift in how the UK buys weapons, moving from "Gold Plated" specifications to "Spiral Development" (buying 80% effective kit now and upgrading it later).
Assessment for 2026–2030:
The success of this model depends on the cultural willingness of the Service Chiefs to accept "good enough" equipment. Early tests in 2026 suggest the Army is embracing this for uncrewed systems, but resistance remains in complex naval procurement.
Conclusion: The Danger Zone
The next five years represent a "danger zone" where the UK Armed Forces must maintain aging legacy platforms (like the Challenger 2 and Type 23 Frigates) while paying heavily for their replacements (Challenger 3, Type 26/31). With the nuclear budget non-negotiable, any cost overruns in the next 36 months will likely result in cuts to training numbers and munitions stockpiles—precisely the areas the 2025 Summit aimed to bolster.
