UK defence chief warns of heightened Russia threats and calls for faster spending increases

Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the risks and threats to the UK are greater now than at any time since the Cold War. "This is the most dangerous period that I have known," he said. He added that Russian strategic aircraft have entered UK airspace as many times in the first five months of 2026 as during all of 2025.

Sir Richard said Russia is probing both traditional military defences and other means such as cyber, sabotage and assassination attempts. "So Russia is definitely raising the stakes and risks crossing a line," he said. He described last year's Strategic Defence Review as a "call to arms" and said the armed forces must now prepare for longer wars of the kind seen in Ukraine.

The Defence Investment Plan, which will set out funding for new equipment and defence infrastructure over the coming decade, is expected in the next few weeks. The document was first due in autumn 2025 and has faced repeated delays. Defence Secretary John Healey said earlier this week that the prime minister is "determined to publish" it before the Nato summit on 7 July.

Sir Richard said he was confident ministers recognise the threats and are increasing spending. "Exactly as the prime minister says, we need to spend more on defence and do it faster," he said. " In an April speech, former defence secretary Lord Robertson warned that Britain's security is "in peril" and that the government has shown "corrosive complacency" towards defence.

Downing Street responded at the time that the UK defence budget is already rising to record levels.