UK long-range missile spending to exceed 400 million pounds in 2025/26

LONDON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Britain's spending on long-range and hypersonic weapons will exceed 400 million pounds ($545 million) in the current financial year, the government said on Friday, highlighting joint missile development with France, Germany and Italy.

As European states work to reinforce their defences against Russia, defence minister John Healey will underline the key role long-range precision weapons have played in the war in Ukraine and the importance of joint missile programmes.

"To meet this new era of rising threats, we need hard power, strong alliances and sure diplomacy," Healey said in a statement on Friday.

• Britain plans to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027 - the largest since the end of the Cold War - with a longer-term target of 5% by 2035.

• Britain says separate long-range missile programmes with Germany, and France and Italy both progressing.

• Healey is expected to hold bilateral meetings with allies at the Munich Security Conference.

($1 = 0.7345 pounds)