Military chiefs inform Keir Starmer they want a ‘nationwide arsenal’ of futuristic weapons or danger going to struggle with Russia

Britain’s military chiefs have told Keir Starmer that he needs to give the Armed Forces a ‘national arsenal’ of futuristic weapons or else he risks war with Russia. 

Army sources told The Telegraph that top officials warned the prime minister during a face-to-face meeting on Friday that the UK needed a massive investment in the Army to fight the next war – and that would also promote the government’s growth agenda. 

The source told the newspaper that Downing Street needed to invest in first-person view (FPV) drones, suicide drones and unmanned ground and surface vehicles if it wanted to have a fighting chance against outside forces.  

‘A national arsenal, in the form of contracts for goods and services, is needed to realise ambitions about doubling fighting power’, they said. 

‘In simple terms, where today the majority of our lethality comes from crewed and high sophistication platforms, like a tank or an attack helicopter, in the future we want to shift more of our lethality coming from low sophistication and uncrewed systems.’

The source added that scaling up production in these high-tech areas would keep the UK’s army competitive. 

‘Mobilising market power alongside improving our fighting power is how to deal with authoritarian states.

‘The markets will do more than the missiles will ever do to make them think twice about starting a war with us. We get to be the first movers if we invest.’ 

Army sources told The Telegraph that top military officials told the prime minister during a face-to-face meeting on Friday that the UK needed a massive investment in the army to fight the next war (stock photo)

‘A national arsenal, in the form of contracts for goods and services, is needed to realise ambitions about doubling fighting power,’ the source said

Members of the Pathfinder Platoon, 16 Air Assault brigade, drive off onto their tasking after a rapid air landing (RAL) from the ATLAS C1 transport airplaneat Pembrey Sands beach

It comes as Starmer pledged to put boots on the ground in Ukraine and send British troops in to the country to enforce a peace deal with Vladimir Putin.

The PM says the UK needs to be ‘ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary’. 

‘I do not say that lightly,’ Sir Keir wrote in The Telegraph. 

‘I feel very deeply the responsibility that comes with potentially putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way. But any role in helping to guarantee security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country.’

The premier made the announcement ahead of an emergency gathering of European leaders in Paris in response to President Donald Trump‘s push for a deal with Russian despot Putin and fears the US will reduce its defence commitments in the continent.

Sir Keir said the crisis was a ‘once in a generation moment’ and an ‘existential’ question for Europe.

Yet the PM has refused to boost military spending amid a defence crisis in Europe.

Keir Starmer says it’s time to put boots on the ground in Ukraine and send British troops in to the country to enforce a peace deal with Vladimir Putin

The premier made the announcement ahead of an emergency gathering of European leaders in Paris in response to President Donald Trump ‘s push for a deal with Russian despot Putin

Government sources said he was still planning to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on the Armed Forces – despite urgent calls to go beyond that figure – and that the timetable for reaching his goal would not be accelerated. 

The Prime Minister said the UK was ‘ready to play a leading role‘ in Ukraine’s defence and security, including the commitment of £3billion a year until 2030.

But he said that along with military aid to Ukraine ‘it also means being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary’.

‘The end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before Putin attacks again,’ he said.