Building defence for the long term

Introduction

In June 2025 the UK government published the Strategic Defence Review calling for greater investment across the sector and engagement with industry, at a time of growing global threat. Since then, we have seen the resurgence of conflict in the Middle East amid an ongoing volatile geopolitical climate, increasing the need to strengthen our national security.

To address these challenges and realise the ambitions of the Strategic Defence Review, the defence sector requires a system-wide reset. War readiness now, more than ever, requires long-term investment for defence infrastructure, rather than episodic spending. Without sector-wide reform, strategic intent risks outpacing operational reality. However, work to deliver these changes will take significant effort and a cultural mind-shift. How do we reframe defence from being viewed in short-term political cycles to building long-term national capability - and shift from reactive spending to generational investment?

Through conversations with senior leaders throughout the defence ecosystem, including Alex Baker MP for Aldershot and a member of the Defence Select Committee and Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Munro, Reservist and Chairman of the Greater London Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association, our report explores common challenges and the approach by industry in which these issues can be addressed.

The report recommends:

• Recognising defence infrastructure as part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure framework.
• Adopting standardised delivery models to reduce fragmentation and accelerate project timelines.
• Strengthening long-term demand signals to enable industry investment in skills and capacity.
• Improving coordination between government and industry to move from episodic delivery to sustained capability building.
• Embedding infrastructure resilience as central to warfighting readiness.

Read more to understand how through deeper alignment between government and industry, and a renewed focus on affordability, productivity and pace, we can truly build defence for the long term.