NASDAQ:LRHC 30 January 2026

July 1, 2026, 8:29 AM EDT. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's outgoing government outlined an extra £15 billion ($19.9 billion) in defense spending for the U.K. over four years, taking annual defense spending to £79.1 billion by 2029, or 2.7% of GDP. The Defence Investment Plan, aimed at bolstering military strength and boosting areas like cybersecurity and AI, sent the FTSE 350 Aerospace & Defense index up almost 5% since Tuesday. BAE Systems, Babcock, and Chemring all moved higher. Analysts see questions ahead, warning limited fiscal space and possible project delays could limit longer-term upside. The sector's five-year run has beaten U.S. rivals, but high valuations and uncertain payoff restrain optimism.