Britain invests £15 billion in autonomous military systems

Britain announced £15 billion in new defence spending on 29 June, with Defence Secretary John Healey and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte prioritizing drones and autonomous systems. The investment funds drone-equipped naval vessels for the Royal Navy—unmanned platforms working alongside traditional crewed ships. The shift reflects lessons from Ukraine: autonomous systems reduce crew exposure, extend surveillance range, and cost less to replace than conventional vessels.