The United Kingdom has announced it will spend £190m, equivalent to $254m, on the Precision Strike Missile programme, joining the United States and Australia in a next-generation ballistic missile initiative capable of hitting targets up to 500 kilometres away.
The announcement was made on Tuesday as outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in Ankara, Turkiye, where European defence spending has dominated discussions.
The investment is expected to triple the British Army’s ground-based strike range compared with existing capabilities.
The Precision Strike Missile, known as PrSM, is a next-generation surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed by United States defence company Lockheed Martin, designed to replace older missile systems.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said the procurement would strengthen the country’s contribution to NATO deterrence, with first deliveries expected as early as 2027.
The spending forms part of the United Kingdom’s 2026 Defence Investment Plan, which outlines £298bn in defence funding over the next four years to implement the country’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review.
The four-year plan earmarks £1.3bn on close support artillery and £590m on long-range rocket artillery, alongside the PrSM procurement.
The Defence Investment Plan has drawn criticism for not setting out a clear path to spending 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product on core defence, a NATO target agreed last year after United States President Donald Trump pressed European allies to increase defence contributions.
Britain said it could also join work to further develop the missile alongside the United States and Australia in future.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
