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13 Jun 2026

techUK, Make UK Defence, ADS, SMI and TheCityUK publish joint statement on the Defence Investment Plan and defence spending

techUK, Make UK Defence, ADS, SMI and TheCityUK publish joint statement on the Defence Investment Plan publication delay

We have joined Make UK Defence, ADS, SMI and TheCityUK in calling on the government to publish the Defence Investment Plan without further delay. Read our full statement:

Joint Statement on the Defence Investment Plan and defence spending by Make UK Defence, techUK, ADS, SMI and TheCityUK

As the UK’s leading voices providing support across the defence enterprise, we are deeply concerned about the current state of the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan and the reportedly marginal increase in defence spending that has been proposed as part of this plan. Decisions on defence investment are inevitably challenging, but these pressures make it more important, not less, that the Plan is credible.

We collectively and enthusiastically back the government’s central mission to kickstart economic growth, and the key role UK defence can play to deliver this. We have also warmly welcomed the MOD’s Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy as positive steps in the right direction towards backing UK based businesses, investing in cutting edge new technologies, supporting SMEs and strengthening warfighting readiness.

We have collectively made clear that we are deeply concerned that the sense of urgency recently presented on defence is not being met with tangible action inside certain parts of the UK Government. The UK’s Armed Forces are only as strong as the industry that sits behind them.

Whilst the Prime Minister has warned that “our intelligence assessment and the assessment of other countries in NATO that there could be an attack by Russia on NATO as soon as 2030”, we still have no Defence Investment Plan and HM Treasury has proposed a minimal increase to existing spending plans. The problem is not only the timing of this publication; it is that the scale and phasing of investment are insufficient for the challenges we face. There are difficult fiscal choices to make, but this – UK national security – is a decision too important to get wrong.

Without the Defence Investment Plan and a meaningful increase in defence spending, we will risk placing our national and economic security at risk against a growing and diversifying range of threats. As John Healey said in his resignation letter, the MOD should not be “forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations and could make the country less safe."

We also know from our collective membership that delays to the publication of the Defence Investment Plan are having a crippling impact on business confidence in the sector, with investments being held up, hiring plans put on hold, and in the worst cases, businesses at risk of going bust – a problem particularly affecting SMEs who lack the capital to sustain themselves through this challenging period. This also comes against the backdrop of ongoing increases in business costs and a fundamental lack of cashflow in the sector. The former Defence Secretary John Healey’s resignation, and the reasons for it, compounds that damage. 

We urge the government to demonstrate the leadership our country desperately needs at this crucial time in our history by delivering a meaningful acceleration of defence investment as soon as possible and ensure the Defence Investment Plan is published in full before next month’s NATO Summit, setting out a clear pathway to meet our NATO commitments, with early decisions that give industry confidence. Failing to do so risks not just our country's security but would also amount to entirely avoidable harm to the UK economy.

Matthew Evans

Matthew Evans

Chief Operating Officer & Director of Markets, techUK

Fred Sugden

Fred Sugden

Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK

Jeremy Wimble

Jeremy Wimble

Senior Programme Manager, Defence, techUK

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Meet the team  

Fred Sugden

Fred Sugden

Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK

Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.

Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.

Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.

 

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
07985 234 170

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Jeremy Wimble

Jeremy Wimble

Senior Programme Manager, Defence, techUK

Jeremy manages techUK's defence programme, helping the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the Ministry of Defence - including the National Armaments Directorate (NAD), UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) and Frontline Commands - through a broad range of activities including policy consultation, private briefings and early market engagement. The Programme supports the MOD as it procures new digital technologies.

Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) coordinating research and impact activities for funders including the FCDO and US Department of Defense, as well as business development and strategy.

Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.

Email:
[email protected]
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-wimble-89183482/

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