A new era of warfare was heralded by the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan yesterday, as it laid out Labour's uncosted route to improving the country's security.

Traditional methods of defence, such as ground troops and manned tanks, will make way for crewless systems that have proved to be devastatingly effective in Ukraine.

Through an extra £15billion of spending over four years – bringing defence investment to just 2.68 per cent of GDP by 2030 – the Navy is to be transformed into what the First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins calls 'the Hybrid Navy'. The RAF and Army are to undergo similar transitions.

Spending on 'wider security', meanwhile, will jump to 4.2 per cent of GDP – with this potentially including the drive to Net Zero and tackling small-boat crossings.

Here, the Daily Mail looks at the DIP's main points:

Drones

The DIP's £5billion investment in drones – considered woefully short by Labour MP and reserve Royal Marines officer Al Carns – includes uncrewed systems across land, sea and air domains.

And the futures of the Navy, RAF and Army will be AI-driven.

The Navy's hybrid fleet will include uncrewed missile barges (Type 91) and submarines (Type 93).

'Autonomous' seabed warfare systems costing £230million will also be developed to thwart Russian attacks on communication infrastructures.

Warships and submarines

Manned warships will act as motherships for vast fleets of surface and subsurface vessels. To cut costs, the UK has entered shipbuilding programmes with the Netherlands and Norway.

Britain will also deepen its submarine partnerships with the US and Australia as part of the Aukus group's plan to build 'up to 12' nuclear-powered attack subs.

And in a nod to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, £1.3billion will be spent on mine-hunting capabilities. A further £120million will be spent this financial year on high-speed boats.

Tanks and helicopters

The £6billion, issue-riddled Ajax armoured vehicle survived – with a further £1billion to be invested to ensure she enters service.

There will be a £150million shift towards uncrewed ground vehicles and £210million to deliver a suite of long-range, one-way munitions and attack drones. 

Another £1billion will be spent on the Challenger 3 battle tank and £2.2billion on the 8x8-wheel Boxer all-terrain vehicle.

Nuclear

Some £63.6billion will be spent improving the UK's nuclear deterrent, including 16 more submarines, a replacement for the Mk4 warhead, the creation of a nuclear fuel cycle and improved dock facilities.

The country's nuclear deterrent will be prioritised, including through investment in current and future warheads and submarine programmes, as well as critical infrastructure upgrades.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) will support a supply chain of 6,000 UK-based companies and 65,000 jobs by 2035. The proportion of the defence budget devoted to the DNE is expected to increase to between 20 and 25 per cent.

The DIP said: 'We are building new attack submarines, new ballistic missile submarines, new warheads and new infrastructure as well as a new nuclear fuels programme.

'This work is a national endeavour with central and local government, industry and academia working together to deliver vital programmes'.

The Government will also fund the 'nuclear triple lock' – consisting of four Dreadnought submarines, a nuclear warhead programme and the transformation of manufacturing sites.

Air defences

Britain's coastline will be beefed up by the Integrated Air and Missile Defence system, with Typhoon and F-35 jets defending the skies.

Counter-drone capabilities will also be supported through £750million being invested in short-range programmes, such as Sky Hammer and Rapid Sentry.

The number of Sky Sabre air defence missile systems will be doubled.

Weapons and munitions

Around £190million will be spent on short-range ballistic missiles and £400million will head towards the Land Lethality Pipeline to develop weapons to enhance the Army's killing power by tenfold.

There will also be a 12 per cent increase in Special Forces funding, though the equipment it will pay for and the precise sum is classified. 

The UK Military Intelligence Services will be a 'global leader', according to the DIP, by delivering cutting-edge data and anticipating threats.

Aircraft

The UK is to continue its partnership with Japan and Italy to build the sixth-generation £8billion GCAP stealth jet.

There had been speculation the UK would seek to manoeuvre itself out of the commitment, considering the rising costs and changes to the envisaged role of the Tempest jet.

Apache helicopters will be protected by scores of armed drones flying in formation.

Housing

In a blow to military families, a scheme to regenerate housing has been 'back-ended'.

Repairs to 14,000 ailing properties will take place in the 2030-2035 period, not before.

The delays cover Single Living Accommodation for unmarried personnel.

But £470million will be invested in base security, reflecting the domestic terror threat after break-ins at sites such as RAF Brize Norton.