https://arab.news/g4njk
- The decision adds weapon with range of up to 500 kilometers to boost NATO deterrence
LONDON: Britain said on Tuesday it would strengthen the army’s long-range capabilities by spending £190 million ($254.22 million) on the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program, buying a weapon which can neutralize targets up to 500 kilometers away.
The country’s outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer is at the NATO summit in Ankara on Tuesday, where he wants to convince US President Donald Trump and other countries in the western military alliance that UK defense spending is heading in the right direction.
The PrSM procurement will strengthen Britain’s contribution to NATO deterrence, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement, adding that the first deliveries could be received in 2027.
The acquisition was funded by Britain’s Defense Investment Plan which has been criticized for not plotting a route to spending 3.5 percent of GDP on core defense, a NATO target set last year after Trump said Europe should spend more on defending themselves.
The next-generation supersonic ballistic missiles are built by Lockheed Martin and the program is a collaboration between the US and Australia. Britain said it could join work to further develop the missile in future.
Britain remains committed to other weapons projects with European partners such as Deep Precision Strike and European Long Range Strike Approach, the statement said.