UK complacent about war threat, warns defence boss
BAE Systems CEO Dr. Charles Woodburn warns that the UK is complacent regarding modern warfare threats and must increase defense spending. He highlights the critical role of autonomous weapons and drones in contemporary conflicts while maintaining the necessity of traditional military hardware.
Why it matters
The warning underscores the shifting nature of global security and the urgent need for nations to adapt military procurement to include autonomous capabilities.
Image source, Getty Images By Simon Jack Business editor Published 56 minutes ago The UK has been too complacent about the risk of foreign attack, the boss of Europe's biggest defence contractor BAE Systems has warned.
Dr Charles Woodburn told the BBC in an exclusive interview that the level of threat was the highest he'd seen in his lifetime.
He welcomed the recent boost to defence spending but said much more would be needed to hit the government's commitment to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035.
He also warned we were not far from the use of autonomous lethal weapons by countries that may not follow the UK's policy of maintaining human control.
In a rare interview, Woodburn told the BBC the reality of modern warfare had "changed quite profoundly" and that UK defence spending had to change with it.
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