LONDON — British Prime Minister David Cameron will promise an additional £12 billion (US $18.2 billion) to strengthen the defense forces when he unveils a five-year strategic review on Monday, according to a government statement.
The Strategic Defence and Security Review will set out Britain's priorities for the duration of his Conservative government, and will focus on tackling threats such as the Islamic State group as well as hostile states.
Under the plans, which are part of £178 billion investment in defence equipment and support over the next decade, Britain would acquire nine new Boeing P8 maritime surveillance aircraft, and two Strike Brigades able to quickly deploy missions up to 5,000 strong, according to a government statement.
The P8s will be used for maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, "increasing further the protection of our nuclear deterrent and our new aircraft carriers," the statement read. "These roles require an aircraft that can carry torpedoes, as well as being fitted with a broad range of sensors, including radar and sonobuoys, which are operated from the rear of the cabin by a team of specialists. These aircraft will also provide maritime search and rescue and surveillance capabilities over land."
By 2025, the two new Strike Brigades "will be rapidly deployable, able to self-deploy thousands of kilometres, and with a much lower logistic footprint," according to the statement. They will use the new Ajax family (previously known as Scout) range of vehicles, with six variants and almost 600 armoured vehicles.
"At its heart is an understanding that we cannot choose between conventional defences against state-based threats and the need to counter threats that do not recognise national borders," Cameron wrote of the strategy in a foreword to the review.
"Today we face both and we must respond to both.
"So over the course of this parliament our priorities are to deter state-based threats, tackle terrorism, remain a world leader in cyber security and ensure we have the capability to respond rapidly to crises as they emerge."
Britain has committed to meet a NATO target of spending at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on defence.
It will include extending the lifespan of the Royal Air Force's Typhoon jets by 10 years to 2040, allowing two more squadrons to be created. "This will give us a total of frontline 7 squadrons, consisting of around 12 aircraft per squadron," the statement read. "We will also invest in their ground attack capability and fit them with a new Active Electronically Scanned Array radar to ensure they can continue to operate in hostile environments in the future."
Additional funding for special forces has already been announced, as well as a 30 percent rise in counter-terror spending.
Cameron will launch the Strategic Defence and Security Review in the lower house of Parliament on Monday.
Cameron is due to make the case for Britain joining international air strikes against IS in Syria, after the United Nations Security council authorized countries to "take all necessary measures" against IS following the attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.
European and UK Editor Andrew Chuter contributed to this report.
