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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
UK 'ready for war' with lasers, robots and AI multi-billion pound army overhaul
Defence Secretary John Healey said the new-look military will include an Army 'ten times more lethal than before' by combining 'drones, technology, autonomy and tanks' Britain has unveiled a 'warfighting readiness' multi-billion pound overhaul of its Armed Forces aimed at building a 'more lethal' military to prepare for war with greater use of artificial intelligence, robots and lasers. A small boost in troop numbers of 3,000 extra soldiers will increase UK forces for the first time in decades in a bid to stop the Tory-led hollowing out of the UK's defences. And Defence Secretary John Healey announced the new-look military will include an Army 'ten times more lethal than before' by combining 'drones, technology, autonomy and tanks.' A near year-long government imposed study of the UK military singles out Russia as the prime enemy with other hostile states China, Iran and North Korea increasingly becoming a threat. The Strategic Defence Review is, according to a senior defence source, 'the most profound change in our Armed Forces' in about 150 years. The source said it is the biggest shift in the UK military since the Franco Prussian war because of the rapid development in technology and artificial intelligence. And the insider added: 'This is the equivalent of the arrival of the submarine, aircraft, the telegraph, nuclear weapons - all arriving at once in the same taxi.' The Strategic Defence Review, published on Monday, recommends more troops, attack submarines, a badly-needed UK 1.5bn air defence system and a boost in cyber weaponry as well as the recommendation to embrace new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robots and lasers. Introducing the SDR Mr Healey pledged to this was the first defence reviews in a generation to expand the military with more troops and better armoured vehicles. He vowed it will make Britain safer. But the 140 page dossier lays into the state of our 'hollowed out' military which has been vastly under staffed, as the Mirror understands the army has fewer than 73,000 soldiers. The SDR took almost a year by former NATO chief Lord George Robertson, former US government adviser to Donald Trump Dr Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons. Britain's two £3.5bn aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be transformed into 'hybrid air wings' launching war-jets, long-range weapons and drones. These will lead the UK's new 'hybrid navy' which will eventually have nuclear-armed Dreadnought and non-nuclear armed Aukus submarines but there will also be the introduction of 'autonomous vessels' or Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships which operate without humans. It also announces the building of Britain's 12 new SSN Aukus attack submarines to be ready in the 2030's, replacing the current Astute-class attack subs. The Aukus will be produced at the rate of one every 18 months. There will be a £6bn boost to missile production in six weapons factories throughout the UK, creating thousands of new jobs. This will produce 7,000 long-range weapons. The SDR says the MoD has presided over a crisis-hit military which is struggling to retain troops because of poor conditions and plummeting 'morale.' It says: 'Poor recruitment and retention, shoddy accommodation, falling morale and cultural challenges have created a workforce numbers of UK regulars and reservists have been in persistent shortfall impacts disproportionately on the skills most critical to UK advantage as it does for allies and partners.' Included within the SDR the RAF will be promised more F35 fighter jets, upgraded Typhoon warplanes and Britain's main warplane hub RAF Brize Norton is now 'a high priority for investment and improvement.' It also calls for a new £1bn investment into a homeland air and missile defence system, although this defence will be in the form of Type 45 destroyers and fighter jets. And troops housing and accommodation will receive a £7bn funding boost, including £1.5bn of 'rapid work' to 'fix the poor state of forces family housing.' There has also been a recommendation to embrace new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and lasers. The paper warned the UK must develop ways to defend against emerging threats, including biological weapons, warning of "pathogens and other weapons of mass destruction". But it also calls for Keir Starmer 's government to take on a bigger army whose numbers have dwindled to around 73,000 in recent years through poor retention and recruitment.. The SDR declares: 'Overall, we envisage an increase in the total number of regular personnel when funding allows. This includes a small uplift in Army Regulars as a priority.' Introducing the SDR Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'We will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and lead in a stronger, more lethal NATO. We will protect the homeland with up to £1bn new funding invested in homeland air and missile defence and creating a new CyberEm Command to defence Britain from daily attacks in the grey zone.' And it said that 'the number of Active Reserves' will be boosted by 20% and that more desk-working troops in 'back office functions' will be released to 'front line roles.' The government also hopes to massively improve recruitment by boosting the numbers of young people joining 'Cadet Forces.' The document recommends 'reconnecting defence with society.' And it adds: 'This can be achieved in part through expanding Cadet Forces by 30% by 2030- with an ambition to reach 250,000 in the longer term and working with the department of education to develop understanding of the Armed Forces among young people in schools.' On recruitment a senior source told the Mirror: 'Look, we had 160,000 people try to join the Army last year and we took on 9,000. We are not short of people wanting to join up.' The British Armed Forces became massively hollowed out after years of Tory-led cuts. Under Labour salaries for troops have been boosted by more than 30%. The source added: 'Under this new government no member of the Armed Forces will not earn less than the national living wage. That was not the case before the general election.' UK's new defence plan analysis by Chris Hughes This has been called the biggest change to UK defence in around 150 years - and on the face of it that could well be the case. That is if any of the much-vaunted changes actually come about and within the time it is being suggested they need to happen. Take the army numbers for instance. Many hoped these would be boosted from less than 73,000 as they currently stand. This is by no means intentional even though numbers were brutally cut over years of Tory rule. It is a result of poor recruitment and retention. There is only the possibility of a 'small uplift.' It says: 'Overall we envisage an increase in the total of Regular personnel when finding allows. This includes a small uplift in Army Regulars as a priority.' But there is mention of 'increasing the number of Active Reserves by 20% - when funding allows - most likely in the 2030s…' There is no promise to increase troop numbers and it merely means they might be increased if we can afford it if and when the need arises. The SDR - the most important one in decades - comes at a time of soaring hostility with Russia, whilst China, Iran and North Korea are also threats of varying degrees. And it promises a great deal whilst the big question is whether it will deliver too. One of the biggest problems for the UK in time of war would be air defences, how to shoot down incoming missiles. Currently, if it were large and fast incoming missiles this might be undertaken by one the UK's Type 45 destroyers, as a sea to air defence or F35B or Typhoon fighter jets as in air-to-air. Or the Army may use Sky Sabre, a lorry mounted air defence system which replaced Rapier. That system fires anti-air missiles. In his introduction Mr Healey clearly says: 'We will protect the UK homeland with up to £1bn new funding invested in homeland air and missile defence and creating a new CyberEM Command to defend Britain from daily attacks in the grey zone.' But it turns out this is not a shiny new air defence system such as Israel had, like the Iron Dome or David's Sling. It is merely a continuation of the Type 45 - fighter jet defences, just with better communication and integration. Like many reviews, the lack of granularity could make you suspect there's not much in it. The emphasis on AI, the risk of space wars, combating the threat from cyber assaults is all there and alarming and reassuring at the same time. It is reassuring the weapons production is being stepped up with six new missiles factories being created, boosting jobs and UK defences. But we don't know what they are, if they are new or what will fire them. The very fact this review happened is good and shows the government is getting things done on defence. But there will be huge trade-offs, perhaps with manning moving aside for new high-tech weaponry. Cost is going to be a huge issue and it remains to be seen if all of this can be afforded.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Strategic Defence Review: SNP MP urges UK to ‘rethink priorities' and look to Europe
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An SNP MP has claimed the UK must 'rethink its defence priorities', as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to publish the critical Strategic Defence Review. The party's Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins urged UK ministers to seek closer ties with Europe, insisting a defence strategy was more than just 'hardware'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking exclusively to The Scotsman, Mr Gethins pointed to the Nordic approach to the threat from Russia as an example for the UK to follow. He said: 'I think the UK needs to rethink its defence priorities. I am not sure everybody gets just how significant the challenge is for Europe and for democracies at the moment with the withdrawal of the United States, and the US being a less reliable security partner. HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving Rosyth in Fife, Scotland, and sailing under the Forth bridge. 'It challenges a lot of the assumptions that have been made in the MoD [Ministry of Defence] for a few years, assumptions they should have been challenging themselves. 'We are years into the war in Ukraine. We are now in the second Trump presidency, the challenges we are facing should not have come as a surprise to anybody.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The strategic defence review is an overarching examination of the UK's defence capability and will be published on Monday. SNP MP Stephen Gethins Sir Keir Starmer had previously said he would set a date for when spending 2.5 per cent of Britain's GDP on defence had to be achieved after the defence review had been completed. Mr Gethins, the MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, claimed the key areas to be looking at were closer collaboration with other countries in Europe. He said: 'The Nordics for example, they have much closer collaboration and are taking the threat from Russia more seriously. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There are some really good illustrations there. It's also about thinking more about defence not simply as military hardware, but also in terms of energy security, food and drink security, and disinformation. We need a much more well rounded approach to security'. The UK government has already confirmed a new 'Cyber and Electromagnetic Command' to address cyber security. Ministers will also invest more than £1 billion into a new 'digital targeting web' to be set up by 2027 to better connect weapons systems and allow battlefield decisions targeting enemy threats to be made and executed faster. Mr Gethins praised the approach to cyber security, but said failing to work with Europe was undermining the goal. He said: 'I think cyber is an area they are increasingly taking seriously, but it is an area where Brexit damages our security. If you look at most other countries, they see membership of the EU and Nato as being the twin pillars of their security. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Europe is a way to invest heavily in its arms infrastructure, and actually that is another reason why the UK needs to be closer to its European partners. It makes sense for the UK, or an independent Scotland, to be more integrated in that European defence structure. 'Labour are still wedded to Tory policies and assumptions around a relationship with the rest of Europe and that has to end.' It comes as the UK government announced an upgrade for Scottish military homes, with 3,000 to be improved as part of an overall £7 billion funding during this Parliament. The review will cover all aspects of defence, including the UK's international partnerships and alliances, and how these can be strengthened.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
UK Consul-General visits Northern Marianas
British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam Photo: Supplied British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam - the first UK diplomat of his rank to do so. Rennie called the trip "overdue" but essential, as the United Kingdom looks to deepen ties with island communities across the Pacific. "This was the first visit in history by a serving British Consul-General," Rennie said. "While we've had British military visiting the islands before - such as [the ship] HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 - it was important for me to show that we value this relationship across a wider spectrum of areas." During his three-day visit in the CNMI, Rennie held meetings with key leaders including Lieutenant Governor David Apatang, Senate President Dennis Mendiola, and Saipan Mayor Ramon Camacho. He also visited cultural and historic sites and spoke with educators, business leaders, and tourism officials. Rennie said the CNMI left an impression on him. "The incredible warmth and hospitality of the people I met, their deep connection to the island and its culture and history, and their resilience and positivity when confronting challenges - all stood out to me," he said. He emphasized that as an island nation itself, composed of multiple islands such as the Shetlands and Orkneys, the UK shares many of the same challenges as the CNMI - especially in energy development, environmental management, and economic diversification. "There is a famous quote that no person is an island, and as island nations it makes it all the more critical that we come together and work together to meet shared global challenges." Rennie said he sees potential for the CNMI and the UK to collaborate on sustainable energy projects, small business development, aquaculture, and even logistics innovations, like drone deliveries to isolated communities - technology already being tested in parts of Scotland. "In Scotland we've been testing unmanned aerial drones to deliver mail and medicine to remote islands," Rennie noted. "That could be useful in the CNMI, especially for communities in Rota or the Northern Islands." The Consul General said his visit was not simply symbolic. "It was a chance to learn about the challenges facing these islands, and the innovations that are being developed to meet these challenges," he said. "There's a lot that we can partner with from the UK." He added that his office would explore how the UK could support island communities in the US Pacific territories, particularly in green energy, broadband expansion, and entrepreneurship.
Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Times
Plumbing woes on Navy carrier means no hot showers for 170 days
Hundreds of sailors on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers, have been without guaranteed hot showers for more than 170 days, it is understood. The Ministry of Defence has been waiting for nearly six months to receive some parts that would enable BAE Systems to fix an issue with some of the hot water storage tanks. It means that sailors have been having to run the showers for more than 20 minutes at a time just to have a hot shower, military personnel have claimed. The problem emerged on the Fill Your Boots social media account, which posted a message from an anonymous sailor lifting the lid on the scandal and saying that it was a 'disgrace'. The sailor wrote:
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Royal Navy to replace tugs that escort nuclear submarines through Scottish lochs
The Royal Navy plans to replace the tugs that guide Britain's £1bn nuclear submarines through narrow Scottish lochs as part of an overhaul of its ageing support vessels. Six tugs, including two that will operate at the Faslane nuclear base on the Clyde, are among 24 support boats due to be ordered under an £850m contract over the next decade. The tugs will be responsible for towing Astute-class hunter-killer submarines and Britain's four Vanguard-class vessels that carry Trident nuclear missiles, which are themselves due to be replaced with 17,000-tonne Dreadnought subs from the early 2030s. The programme also involves the deployment of four new tugs to Devonport, a base for frigates and amphibious vessels. All of the craft are due to be built by Dutch shipbuilder Damen, which produces tugs, ferries and specialist craft. Portsmouth, the main base for the Navy's surface warships, already has a new supertug, the Tempest, which was commissioned from Damen to help manoeuvre aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The new vessels will replace some that are decades old, including the Faslane-based tug Impulse, which was built in 1993 and helped bring HMS Astute back to port in 2010 after the submarine ran aground off Skye during sea trials. Some of the tugs scheduled to be retired in Devonport were built before the Falklands War. Also due for replacement are vessels that transport personnel between warships in port, ammunition barges, barge-mounted cranes, a pilot vessel and a fuel barge, as well as craft that flush out the holds of other ships. Support services company Serco will be responsible for procuring the new fleet following a contract award from the Ministry of Defence. The company's marine services arm operates more than 90 vessels and has been supporting the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary for 28 years, although the latest renewal is the biggest it will have taken on. Anthony Kirby, Serco's boss, said the modernisation programme was vital to provide the Navy with 'the support it requires, day in, day out'. Serco was also awarded a five-year contract to support military training exercises at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre, a marine firing range near Skye. A third contract spanning 10 years includes offshore support for training exercises involving the Victoria and the Northern River, which carry rapid pursuit craft used by the Special Boat Service. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
