UK and France agree to co-ordinate on nuclear deterrent The UK and France will co-ordinate more closely over nuclear deterrent plans, with any adversaries “threatening the vital interests” of either nations set to face a joint response to attacks. In a new agreement struck between Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, the two countries will work together on nuclear research and take a more aligned [...]
Hackathons help UK defence tech take flight Tech Sandhurst isn’t the first place one might liken to Silicon Valley. Yet, the Royal Military Academy – long a symbol of tradition in British defence – is becoming a new hub for defence technology innovation. At a recent 24 hour defence tech hackathon, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst hosted coders, engineers and military veterans alike, [...]
Serco appoints new chair amid better than expected performance Business Serco has appointed Keith Williams as chair amid a period of strong growth boosted by government spending on defence and immigration. The Halfords chair will take over from John Rishton, who will have completed a nine-year tenure by the time he steps down in December. Williams said it was an “honour” to have been selected [...]
Babcock shares soar as FTSE 100 giant hails ‘new era’ for defence June 25, 2025 Engineering giant Babcock posted a jump in profit for the latest financial year as the firm’s boss hailed a “new era for defence”. The FTSE 100 company – which plays a significant role in supporting the UK’s nuclear submarine program – recorded an 11 per cent increase in revenue to £4.8bn. Meanwhile, operating profit surged [...]
Spending Review: Reeves promises UK will become defence ‘superpower’ June 11, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged the UK will become a “defence industrial superpower” as she confirmed military spending would rise to 2.6 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) by April 2027. Unveiling the government’s much-anticipated Spending Review, Reeves told the House of Commons: “A new era in the threats we face demands a new [...]
Babcock: FTSE 100 shares double in value to ten-year high June 4, 2025 Shares in Babcock, the FTSE 100 aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering services giant, have rocketed to their highest value since 2015 after doubling in price. The London-listed group has enjoyed a bumper 2025 so far, with its share price rising from just over 500p at the start of January to now be priced at more [...]
Starmer’s defence spending will mean ‘chunky’ tax rises, warns IFS June 2, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to boost defence spending will require “chunky” tax rises, according to the chief of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Paul Johnson told Times Radio: “…if we’re really going to spend another £10-15 billion a year on defence, whilst inevitably we’re going to spend more and more on health and pensions [...]
FTSE 100 defence stocks: Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Babcock shares surge June 2, 2025 Shares in FTSE 100 giants Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Babcock have surged off the back of the UK government unveiled its strategic defence review. Plans to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines have been included in the 130-page document, which concludes UK must prepare for conflict in Europe or the Atlantic and move [...]
The defence industry shouldn’t expect a gold rush May 19, 2025 Despite all their talk, Labour's promises won't mean a gold rush for the defence industry, writes Eliot Wilson.
Drones, AI, space: where to invest amid defence tech boom April 1, 2025 The world is rearming at a dizzying pace. Global defence spending has surged at an annual rate of 4.2 per cent since 2020 – that’s four times faster than pre-pandemic levels, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. By 2030, that figure is expected to hit $3.4tr, reflecting rising geopolitical tensions and the race [...]