UK Shifts to ‘20-40-40’ Military Strategy Prioritizing Uncrewed Combat

The British Army intends to adopt a military strategy shifting from reliance on conventional military assets to drones and autonomous systems, British daily The Times reported.

The “20-40-40” strategy focuses on operating uncrewed and autonomous systems to strike adversaries while reducing troop casualties, where 20 percent of heavy platforms, like the incoming Challenger 3 tanks, will be mobilized at a safe distance after an initial 40 percent of expendable drones and munitions have been launched against the enemy.

Meanwhile, the last 40 percent will consist of deploying reusable systems such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance drones to enhance battlefield awareness and precision strikes.

The modernized military framework is set to be officially unveiled in the UK’s upcoming Strategic Defence Review 2025 undergoing finalization.

Lessons From Ukraine

London cited lessons from Ukraine’s war against Russia behind its latest strategy.

Kyiv is known for its advanced production and skillful use of drones and jammers, while Moscow overwhelms enemy infrastructure with attritable Shahed drones.

Drone-Centric Doctrine

Relying on 80 percent uncrewed and autonomous systems on the battlefield could potentially address the British army’s issues regarding recruitment and stockpile shortages, and claims of outdated military training affecting its abilities in the event of a full-scale war.

The UK joins Ukraine in institutionalizing a military framework that addresses evolving threats brought by drones on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, NATO allies like the US began rethinking a similar strategy of deploying drones first to clear the path and positioning tanks in places hidden from aerial threats, mitigating costly losses of equipment and personnel from enemy unmanned aerial vehicles.