UK defence industry has 1,000 days to prepare for war, warns Defence Secretary

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that Russia could be ready to attack NATO countries by 2030, leaving the UK little more than 1,000 days to prepare its armed forces for a possible conflict.

In comments published by The Telegraph over the weekend, Streeting said Russia’s military expansion and wartime economy had shortened the time available to strengthen the UK’s defences.

“Our adversaries’ willingness to harm us is not new. What has changed is their capacity,” he said. “By 2030, their force strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack. That gives us a little over 1,000 days to complete our mission: to be ready with our allies to fight and win.”

Streeting described preparing the country for conflict as his “defining priority”. He said the UK and its NATO allies needed stronger military capabilities to deter an attack.

UK defence manufacturers urged to increase production

The warning follows Streeting’s speech at the opening of Rheinmetall’s new gun manufacturing facility in Telford on 22 October.

The factory will produce large-calibre artillery gun barrels in the UK for the first time in decades. It will use steel from Sheffield Forgemasters. Rheinmetall’s gun facility is expected to create around 100 jobs, with further employment across the supply chain.

“We must also outproduce them too, because advantage increasingly belongs to those who can manufacture at scale and field capability fastest,” Streeting said in Telford.

The government plans to increase UK production of weapons, ammunition and military equipment, including supplies needed to sustain operations during a prolonged conflict.

Its Defence Industrial Strategy, published in September 2025, sets out measures to expand domestic manufacturing. That includes improving access to defence contracts for smaller suppliers and speeding up procurement.

Manufacturers will need to recruit skilled workers, expand production facilities and secure supplies of specialist materials. Long-term contracts will be important for companies considering major investments in additional capacity.

Defence spending and procurement delays

The government’s Defence Investment Plan provides for approximately £298 billion of spending over four years, including £15 billion in additional investment.

The allocations include £11 billion for weapons and munitions and £5 billion for drones and autonomous systems. Funding for new manufacturing facilities is also planned.

Annual defence spending is expected to reach almost £80 billion by 2029-30, equivalent to 2.7% of GDP. The government has committed to meeting NATO’s target of spending 3.5% of GDP on core defence requirements by 2035.

The Ministry of Defence will need to accelerate equipment deliveries if the armed forces are to meet Streeting’s 2030 readiness target.

Major procurement programmes have repeatedly exceeded their budgets or missed delivery dates.

The National Audit Office found that ten of the Ministry of Defence’s 32 most significant capability programmes required urgent action or were unlikely to meet their planned schedules. Only five were considered likely to be delivered on time.

The NAO cited issues with suppliers, shortages of specialist personnel and weaknesses in programme management.

In June, the Public Accounts Committee criticised delays in publishing the Defence Investment Plan, saying uncertainty over future orders had damaged confidence among defence suppliers and international partners.

The delays affect manufacturers who are expected to increase production over the next three years. Companies need confirmed orders to recruit staff, purchase machinery and expand factories.

The armed forces must also have sufficient personnel, maintenance facilities and training capacity to operate new equipment when it arrives.

Streeting’s 2030 deadline creates a sense of urgency for the Ministry of Defence and its suppliers, with limited time to complete procurement programmes, increase weapons production and bring additional military capabilities into service.