{"text":[[{"start":8.05,"text":"Sir Keir Starmer will unveil a long-delayed defence investment plan on Tuesday, which will include £5bn for drones and other uncrewed systems but which is unlikely to stem the demands of senior officers for additional funding. "}],[{"start":22.15,"text":"The expected increase in defence spending of around £14.5bn — upped by £1bn in the wake of the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary this month — has been signed off by Starmer’s expected successor Andy Burnham."}],[{"start":36.05,"text":"It has been the subject of tense negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury, culminating in Healey’s decision to quit."}],[{"start":44.199999999999996,"text":"Senior current and retired officers have warned that the proposed settlement will mean cuts are necessary to existing budgets, although some have withheld final judgment until the plan is published. "}],[{"start":55.099999999999994,"text":"The £5bn figure for drones will defray some criticisms that the defence ministry is not moving fast enough into the new era of warfare. It represents a £1bn boost to plans laid out in the strategic defence review for the next four years. "}],[{"start":70.75,"text":"“The Defence Secretary [Dan Jarvis] has spent the last two weeks refocusing the DIP so that it prioritises getting the latest kit into the hands of military personnel,” the MoD said on Monday."}],[{"start":82.45,"text":"Healey had pushed the Treasury for a total rise closer to £18bn. Many former senior officers say even that would have been too low. "}],[{"start":91.85000000000001,"text":"Starmer will herald the plan as boosting British manufacturing, as well as prioritise sovereign British AI and autonomous technology. "}],[{"start":100.50000000000001,"text":"That was echoed by Burnham, the likely next prime minister, who said in a speech on Monday that government procurement had done too little to promote British-based suppliers."}],[{"start":109.95000000000002,"text":"“From here on, every pound raised from taxpayers will work harder for them — and that approach will apply fully to the Defence Investment Plan,” Burnham said, adding that he wanted to “safeguard sovereign manufacturing and production capability”. "}],[{"start":125.30000000000001,"text":"The focus on drones comes as military planners seek to learn lessons from Ukraine, where officials estimate that around 200,000 drones are used each month. In the recent Iran war, meanwhile, hundreds of offensive drones were reportedly launched daily at the height of the conflict. "}],[{"start":143.60000000000002,"text":"The UK says that future British forces will increasingly combine crewed and autonomous platforms, with attack drones operating alongside Army Apache helicopters, electronic warfare drones supporting RAF combat aircraft, and uncrewed vessels integrated into Royal Navy task groups."}],[{"start":161.75000000000003,"text":"“In Ukraine and the Middle East, uncrewed systems are defining conflicts. This largest ever UK investment into these evolving technologies will help our Armed Forces stay ahead of our adversaries,” Jarvis said."}],[{"start":181.95000000000005,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782801673_1414.mp3"}