The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has been delayed, with no clear publication date announced, a defence minister confirmed following a parliamentary question from a shadow minister.
Luke Pollard, the Defence Readiness and Industry Minister, had previously told reports that the plan would be released by Christmas. However, following the latest parliamentary update, no firm timetable has been provided.
The DIP replaces the previous Defence Equipment Plan, which set out planned procurement and capability development for the Ministry of Defence over the next decade, according to the House of Commons Library. It is designed to provide detailed insight into the UK’s military spending priorities and future capabilities.
In response to a question from Mark Francois, Pollard said: “We are working flat out between now and the end of the year to finalise the Defence Investment Plan. I am sure the Honourable Gentleman will appreciate the scale of the decisions that we need to make, and the challenges posed by a programme inherited from the last government that was overcommitted, underfunded, and unsuited to meeting future threats.”
The delay comes amid continued scrutiny of the British Army’s Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme, which has been criticised following a recent incident in which a soldier was injured while operating the £5.5bn vehicle.
Defence Secretary John Healey told reports that the plan would be published “as soon as we can,” but did not provide a specific date. “We’ll obviously report it and publish it first to Parliament. That’s the proper thing for an elected government,” he said.
The DIP forms part of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, which sets out the UK Government’s plans for military spending and capability development to meet future national and international threats.
