A review of the nation’s defences has been described as a “complete damp squib” amid claims that it will lack any detail. The most specific procurement decisions have been delayed until the autumn.

The strategic defence review (SDR), ­which could be published as soon as next week, is being led by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, a former defence secretary and Nato secretary-general, and Sir Richard Barrons, a retired general. The process is understood to have been fraught with tension, with little meaningful consultation with Britain’s senior military chiefs.

Sources close to the Ministry of Defence claim the SDR, will be published “without any numbers attached to it” and will lack any “specific detail” with most procurement decisions delayed until October. The government has said the review will “consider the threats Britain faces, the capabilities needed to meet them, the state of the UK armed forces and the resources available”.

• The Sunday Times View: The Kashmir conflict shows why rearmament is so pressingThe claims appear to echo comments made by David Williams, the MoD’s permanent secretary, who told the Commons public accounts committee last month: “The SDR will need to be translated into a set of specific investment decisions for individual capabilities and projects — this is work for later in summer and into the autumn. It will confirm areas of current programmes that remain critical to take forward, and new areas of capability the reviewers believe we should prioritise.” A government source said Williams was referring to “the really granular line-by-line details”, and insisted the SDR would include costings and planned investment.James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: “If reports are correct that the SDR will effectively be a complete damp squib, with most specific procurement decisions punted to the autumn, the government will be badly letting down our armed forces and defence industry.“I’ve warned for months that orders for new kit have largely been on hold since the election whilst we wait for the SDR. At a time when the threats we face are intensifying, we need to be urgently speeding up the rearmament process, not slowing it down. Keir Starmer needs to get a grip on the SDR or our adversaries will conclude we just aren’t serious about standing up to them.”• Defence chiefs want to boost army reserves for ‘bigger, longer war’It is understood the SDR could be published as part of the defence and security partnership likely to be agreed with the EU at the May 19 summit. It will come at a challenging time for the military after it was reported last week that the head of the Royal Navy has been suspended over claims he had a secret affair with a female comrade. Admiral Sir Ben Key, 59, who has been married for more than 30 years and has three children, was forced to “step back” as first sea lord, the first time in the navy’s 500-year history that its chief has faced a misconduct inquiry.Admiral Sir Ben Key, 58ARTUR WIDAK/ANADOLUIn February, defence sources told The Sunday Times that Robertson’s team had made many changes to their original blueprint and had recently submitted their fourth draft of the SDR. One said the review was at risk of becoming a “mess”.In a speech at the London defence conference to coincide with the 80th anniversary of VE day last week, Sir Keir Starmer said the government would publish “a first-of-its kind, root and branch strategic defence review”. He added: “It will scrutinise every aspect of defence — to determine how we can best meet the threats of today … And return Britain to warfighting readiness.”