For the first time in decades, the UK is getting ready for a real possibility of war on its own soil. The government’s new National Security Strategy says the country must “actively prepare” for direct threats to British lives, cities, and infrastructure.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shattered the idea that Europe is safe from war. Now, leaders say Britain must build national resilience across all parts of society. From cyberattacks to sabotage, the risks are growing fast.
So how is the government planning to respond? The next step involves war drills for everyone.
UK Officials Say Threats Are Closer Than We Think
The government’s new security plan doesn’t hold back. It names Russia and Iran as the biggest threats facing the UK today. The report warns that some enemies are already setting the stage for future attacks, including plans to disrupt energy and supply chains.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain now faces “very, very frequent and very, very serious” cyberattacks. Officials have also seen a sharp rise in hostile activity from Iran. This is no longer about faraway battles. It’s about protecting what’s at home. With that in mind, the country is taking its next step: full-scale emergency drills.
Nationwide War Drills Are Coming Soon
Emergency drills across the UK are about to change. Instead of just practicing for fires or natural disasters, Britain will now run yearly exercises that simulate full-on wartime scenarios. These drills are meant to test how the country responds to major attacks, including cyberstrikes, supply chain failures, and infrastructure blackouts.
Both public and private sectors will take part to make sure every layer of society is involved. Officials say the goal is to find weak spots before real threats hit. But preparing the public isn’t just about drills, it’s also about mindset. The government wants a tougher nation.
Government Calls for a Tougher, More United Britain
Britain’s leaders are urging a new mindset: one that’s ready for hard choices. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden told Parliament that the country needs a “clear-eyed and hard-edged” approach to national security. That means every part of society, from local councils to major industries, must be ready to act.
Plans include more “hard power” investments, stronger military forces, and new biosecurity defenses, including a £1 billion National Biosecurity Centre. Cross-government training will become standard. This is no longer just the military’s job. With threats rising, national defense now means everyone, everywhere, has a role to play in keeping Britain safe.
Russia and Iran Are Now the Top Threats
The UK’s security services have seen a big increase in hostile threats. MI5 reports a 48% rise in state-related investigations, with Iran behind 20 major plots since 2022. These include assassination attempts, cyberattacks, and threats to dissidents and journalists. Russia is also a top concern, especially as its war in Ukraine continues and its aggression toward the UK grows.
In response, Britain has rolled out a new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. This law tracks anyone acting on behalf of Russian or Iranian interests. These aren’t just warnings, they reflect real, active threats already playing out on British soil.
New Fighter Jets Bring Nuclear Power Back to the Skies
The UK is buying 12 F-35A fighter jets, and they’re a big deal. These planes can carry tactical nuclear bombs, something Britain hasn’t had in the air since 1998. They’ll be based at RAF Marham and will give the UK the ability to take part in NATO’s shared nuclear mission.
The bombs themselves, the US-made B61-12, are designed to be delivered by these jets under strict controls. This move makes the UK’s nuclear deterrent stronger and more flexible. With Europe facing rising instability, leaders see this as a powerful way to signal strength and protect against future threats.
Air-Launched Nukes Return After 27 Years
Since 1998, Britain’s nuclear defense has relied only on submarines. But with the Ukraine war showing the value of visible deterrents, the UK is adding nuclear-capable aircraft back to its strategy. The B61-12 bomb that will arm these jets has a blast yield of up to 340 kilotons, more than three times the size of the Hiroshima bomb.
While the jets won’t carry these bombs in day-to-day missions, they’ll be ready if NATO calls on them. This step puts Britain alongside France and the US as the only European powers with both sea and air-based nuclear options ready to deploy.
The Bombs Stay American, But the Mission Is Shared
There’s a catch to this nuclear upgrade. The B61 bombs stay under US control, even when stored on British bases. American personnel guard them, and British pilots can only deploy them with approval from Washington. RAF Lakenheath is being updated to receive these weapons again.
According to defense expert Hans Kristensen, the base held about 110 of these bombs until 2008. Now, infrastructure upgrades suggest they’re coming back. This arrangement is part of NATO’s broader nuclear sharing plan, where allies provide the planes and pilots, but the United States keeps final control over when and how the bombs are used.
Britain Pledges to Boost Defense Spending to 5%
The UK has committed to spend 5% of its national income on defense and security by 2035. This is the biggest and longest-term investment since the Cold War. The breakdown includes 3.5% for traditional defense and 1.5% for related areas like energy security and border protection.
The deal was agreed at the NATO summit in The Hague, where NATO’s Secretary General called it a “quantum leap.” The spending also responds to growing pressure from the US for Europe to contribute more to its own defense. This marks a turning point in how seriously Britain is taking future threats.
Britain Adopts a Fortress Mindset to Face a Risky Future
The UK isn’t just changing its military plans, it’s reshaping how it sees the world. Gone are the days of assuming war was unlikely or distant. Now, the government sees direct threats from Russia, China, and Iran as real and growing.
Parliamentary reports say British forces could be “exhausted after just two months of high-intensity warfare,” revealing how far defense readiness needs to go. This new strategy calls for nothing short of a national transformation. From energy systems to border control, every part of the country is being asked to prepare for a future that’s more dangerous than before.
