‘We call it the valley of death’: inside Britain’s battle to rearm itself

While maintaining these capabilities is still key to Britain’s industrial-defence plan, ministers have said the budget must also stretch to incorporate new technologies that are taking centre stage in modern conflicts such as the Ukraine war. The world is at the very start of “the drone wars”, says Professor Trevor Taylor, director of defence industries at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). The Government’s plan to lift defence spending is littered with references to how drones have been used by the Ukrainians to devastating effect against Russia – noting how these “low-cost solutions are increasingly outmatching more sophisticated systems” such as Putin’s Black Sea fleet. Spending decisions made today will be key to fostering the growth of future would-be drone manufacturers, says Prof Taylor.