Telegraph reports a 20% reduction in British military R&D
According to The Telegraph, British military research and development programs are confronting significant budget reductions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The UK might lag behind Russia and China in defense technology without research and development funds, a source has informed the newspaper.
According to The Telegraph, the new British government plans to reduce military research and development funding by approximately 20% for this financial year, as reported by anonymous civil servants. The Ministry of Defence has challenged these claims.
This proposed cut in spending is expected to be part of broader budget adjustments across various departments, including the ministry. The new Labour government argues that these measures are essential due to a £22 billion ($28 billion) deficit left by the previous Conservative administration. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has indicated that government departments must save £5.5 billion ($7 billion) this year alone.
A spokesperson for the ministry has refuted the report, stating, “These claims are incorrect.” The statement also emphasized Labour’s intention to raise UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP “as soon as possible,” a target the Conservatives aimed to achieve by 2030.
The rebuttal further specified, “We remain on course to spend over £6.6 billion on research and development during this spending review period and we remain committed to the development of satellite-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.”
The pledge appears to be a response to The Telegraph’s report on defense programs that might be cut to save costs. This includes the Minerva project, which aims to deploy a new constellation of space satellites by 2026, with the first launch scheduled for this week. However, Surrey Satellite Technology, the company responsible for the spacecraft, is uncertain about the timing of the second launch, according to The Telegraph.
The report also highlights potential impacts on other significant projects, such as the next-generation Tempest fighter jet being developed collaboratively by the UK, Italy, and Japan, as well as a directed energy weapon aimed at disabling enemy electronics, being created by French defense contractor Thales.
The initial warning regarding potential cuts emerged in June when the Labour Party was expected to win a parliamentary election and assume power. The Ministry of Defence is required to finalize its decisions by next March, coinciding with the end of the financial year.
A defense source conveyed to The Telegraph: “Without these investments in cutting-edge tech, the Armed Forces risk falling further behind not only our adversaries, like China and Russia, but also our peers like the Americans.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to The Telegraph, the new British government plans to reduce military research and development funding by approximately 20% for this financial year, as reported by anonymous civil servants. The Ministry of Defence has challenged these claims.
This proposed cut in spending is expected to be part of broader budget adjustments across various departments, including the ministry. The new Labour government argues that these measures are essential due to a £22 billion ($28 billion) deficit left by the previous Conservative administration. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has indicated that government departments must save £5.5 billion ($7 billion) this year alone.
A spokesperson for the ministry has refuted the report, stating, “These claims are incorrect.” The statement also emphasized Labour’s intention to raise UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP “as soon as possible,” a target the Conservatives aimed to achieve by 2030.
The rebuttal further specified, “We remain on course to spend over £6.6 billion on research and development during this spending review period and we remain committed to the development of satellite-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.”
The pledge appears to be a response to The Telegraph’s report on defense programs that might be cut to save costs. This includes the Minerva project, which aims to deploy a new constellation of space satellites by 2026, with the first launch scheduled for this week. However, Surrey Satellite Technology, the company responsible for the spacecraft, is uncertain about the timing of the second launch, according to The Telegraph.
The report also highlights potential impacts on other significant projects, such as the next-generation Tempest fighter jet being developed collaboratively by the UK, Italy, and Japan, as well as a directed energy weapon aimed at disabling enemy electronics, being created by French defense contractor Thales.
The initial warning regarding potential cuts emerged in June when the Labour Party was expected to win a parliamentary election and assume power. The Ministry of Defence is required to finalize its decisions by next March, coinciding with the end of the financial year.
A defense source conveyed to The Telegraph: “Without these investments in cutting-edge tech, the Armed Forces risk falling further behind not only our adversaries, like China and Russia, but also our peers like the Americans.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
