Prime Minister commissions new Strategic Defence Review
The review follows the recent NATO Summit in Washington DC where the Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government's commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on Defence and to the Alliance. The review will begin immediately and will involve a broad consultation process, including serving military personnel, MPs, industry and academia. The review will be headed up by three external reviewers, supported by a Defence Review Team of senior high level experts from inside and outside Government. The external reviewers are:
- Lord Robertson - Former Defence Secretary and NATO Secretary General (Review lead)
- Dr Fiona Hill CMG - Foreign policy expert and former US presidential advisor
- General Sir Richard Barrons – Former Commander Joint Forces Command and former Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff
The Strategic Defence Review will seek to:
- Put personnel across Defence at the heart of future Defence work.
- Ensure that the UK continues to lead in NATO.
- Strengthen UK homeland security.
- Bolster Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
- Modernise and maintain the nuclear deterrent.
- Adapt military services and equipment programmes to meet requirements.
- Help drive the guiding principle of One Defence
Submissions will be invited until the end of September from serving and retired members of the Armed Forces, industry, the general public, academics, Parliament, and the UK's allies and partners.
Responding to the announcement of the review, techUK's Associate Director for Defence & National Security Fred Sugden said:
‘techUK welcomes the Government’s announcement to hold a Strategic Defence Review. We appreciate the opportunity to inform and contribute to the Review on behalf of our members, and will be working hard to ensure the digital and technology industry’s views are fully considered throughout the process. We look forward to working with our members and colleagues in government to champion the important role the Defence technology industry plays in underpinning the UK’s national security and economic prosperity’
You can read the full press release on the announcement of the review here.
Fred Sugden
Fred Sugden
Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.
Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07985 234 170
Jeremy Wimble
Jeremy Wimble
Jeremy manages techUK's defence programme, helping the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the Ministry of Defence - including Defence Digital, DE&S, innovation units and Frontline Commands - through a broad range of activities including private briefings and early market engagement events. It also supports the MOD as it procures new digital technologies.
Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) coordinating research and impact activities for funders including the FCDO and US Department of Defense, as well as business development and strategy.
Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
