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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Crucial defence review warns Britain's Armed Forces aren't ready to fight a war against a foe with similar capabilities in stark assessment of UK's military prowess
Britain's Armed Forces aren't ready to fight a war against a military with similar capabilities, the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review have warned. In a stark assessment, the report said that our forces are better suited 'to a peacetime era' and are 'not currently optimised for warfare against a 'peer' military state'. The externally-led Strategic Defence Review (SDR), written by former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, retired general Sir Richard Barrons and Russia expert Fiona Hill, was described as the most profound change to defence in 150 years. While it leaned heavily into new technologies, it has also recommended an increase in the size of the regular Army from 73,000 to 76,000 in the next Parliament. This follows decades of the Army shrinking from 156,000 at the end of the Cold War. The review also includes a chilling list of the potential effects of conflict on the UK's way of life and lays bare Britain's overseas dependencies and threats. In the event of war, Britain would be subject to attacks on its military bases at home and abroad, long-range drone and cruise missile sorties, cyber-attacks crippling national infrastructure and disruptions to economic interests and international trade routes. The SDR states that the defence medical services couldn't cope with a mass casualty event and that the military is suffering from a recruitment crisis which means only a small number of troops could be deployed. The document added: 'The UK is entering a new era of threat and challenge. The West's long-held military advantage is being eroded as other countries modernise and expand their armed forces at speed.' Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the UK's Royal Air Force land at Murted Air Base in Ankara for inspection by Turkish officials on December 18, 2024 The report also reveals that 95 per cent of the UK's data is carried by undersea cables that are vulnerable to attack and that the UK relies on imports for 46 per cent of its food. It stated: 'Undersea pipelines and data cables are critical for sustaining daily national life. The maritime domain is increasingly vulnerable. The Royal Navy must be prepared to deter maritime incidents similar to the sabotage of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and the cutting of undersea data cables in UK and international waters.' In the year to September 2024, the UK suffered 89 nationally significant cyber-attacks. The Navy and RAF conducted 374 escorts of Russian Federation vessels between 2020 and 2024. In that same period there were 32 launches of RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert aircraft. The report added: 'Defence must prepare for a much more difficult world of heightened competition, more frequent crises and conflict that sees conventional military attacks combined with intensified sub-threshold aggression. 'The UK is already subject to daily sub-threshold attack, targeting its critical national infrastructure, testing its vulnerabilities as an open economy and global trading nation and challenges its social cohesion. 'Changes in the strategic context mean that UK defence must plan on the basis that Nato allies may be drawn into war with – or be subject to coercion by – another nuclear-armed state.' The SDR will bring about a transformation of the Armed Forces, including the development of a so-called Integrated Force, a coming together of the separate services. Eurofighter Typhoon jet from the UK's Royal Air Force lands at Murted Air Base in Ankara for inspection by Turkish officials on December 18, 2024 While defence chiefs are determined to meet the Prime Minister's challenge to become 'war ready', the SDR reveals they are also expected to make savings. The Army is expected to deliver 'a ten-fold increase in lethality' – but without a significant number of regular soldiers, although the report concedes there is a 'strong case for a small increase in regular numbers when funding allows'. The SDR suggests fewer paratroopers will be trained to jump. The report calls on the RAF to become more efficient and use civilian planes when a task 'does not require military capability'. The Royal Navy is expected to move towards a 'cheaper' fleet. Admirals are expected to use 'commercial vessels' for transportation in non-contested environments and to share logistical challenges with allies. The UK's £7 billion combined-cost aircraft carriers are expected to become more versatile, with adaptations to ensure long-range missiles can be fired from their decks and more uncrewed aircraft. Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'We must move to war-fighting readiness, to avoid the huge costs that wars create. We prevent wars by being strong enough to win them. 'We will establish a new hybrid-Navy, our carriers will carry the first hybrid airwing in Europe. We will create a British Army which is ten times more lethal, with an aim of 76,000 regular soldiers in the next parliament. 'We will also increase the number of cadets by 30 per cent and develop a new strategic reserve by 2030.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says
The government will invest billions of pounds to move the UK to "war-fighting readiness" in the face of a new era of threats from nuclear powers like Russia and China, the defence secretary has government has accepted all 62 recommendations set out in a long-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR), including building 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, six new munitions factories and embracing technologies like artificial army needs to become "10 times more lethal" to face a "new era of threats", John Healy told MPs on shadow defences secretary James Cartlidge called the plans a "damp squib" which were "underfunded and totally underwhelming". The SDR, carried out by former Labour Defence Sectary Lord Robertson, found the UK's armed forces are "not currently equipped" to fight opponents like Russia or China, with inadequate stockpiles of weapons, poor recruitment and crumbling report warned the UK is already experiencing daily attacks on its critical national infrastructure, testing the economy's vulnerabilities and "and challenging its social cohesion".Russia is "an immediate and pressing threat", as the invasion of Ukraine "makes unequivocally clear its willingness to use force to achieve its goals", the report China is a "sophisticated and persistent challenge", the review warns, and is "likely to continue seeking advantage through espionage and cyber attacks" and is expected to have 1,000 nuclear warheads by fight this, the Ministry of Defence must embrace new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and lasers, the review recommends. In a Commons statement, Healey said: "The threats we face are now more serious and less predictable than at any time since the end of the Cold War. "We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber-attacks at home."Our adversaries are working more in alliance with one another, while technology is changing the way war is fought. We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK defence." Other announcements in the review include:A new "hybrid Navy" with Aukus submarines and autonomous vessels that can patrol the North Atlantic£15bn to be spent on new nuclear warheads Commitment to £1.5bn to build six new factories to enable an "always on" munitions production capacityBuilding up to 7,000 long-range weapons including missiles or drones in the UK, to be used by British forcesPledge to set up a "cyber and electromagnetic command" to boost the military's defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspaceExtra £1.5bn to 2029 to fund repairs to military housing£1bn on technology to speed up delivery of targeting information to soldierHealey said the changes will help "create a British Army which is 10 times more lethal".He also signalled the government planned to increase the size of the Army from 74,400 to at least 76,000 full-time soldiers after the next UK's army cadet force or volunteer young people by 30% and offering a "gap year" to people interested in sampling military life. The review was drawn up with the expectation that defence spending would rise to 2.5% of national income or GDP by 2027 - up from around 2.3% what the review describes as a "small uplift" in the Army has not yet been funded. A defence source has also told the BBC the commitment to build up to 12 new attack submarines would require an increase in defence spending to at least 3% of GDP. Ministers say they expect to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034 at the latest but have guarantees - and the run-up to the review's release has been dominated by a political row over when government will hit the Conservatives say the move - which would hike spending by around £20bn a year - should be met by the end of the decade. Cartlidge said that "without the funding, [the review] is an empty wish list" and the "ships and submarines it talks of are a fantasy fleet". The government "wants to send a strong message to Moscow, but the messages he's sending are profoundly weak", Cartlidge added."After so much hype, the SDR is a damp squib," he said."It's overdue, underfunded and totally underwhelming. Our armed forces deserve better than this." But Sir Keir Starmer argued the review would help create a "battle-ready, armour clad" in Scotland earlier on Monday, the prime minister said: "When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly show them that we're ready to deliver peace through strength." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
At a glance: Key points from government's defence strategy
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set out the government's defence strategy for the next decade. The so-called "root and branch" review of the UK's defence capability, led by former UK defence secretary and Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, looked at everything from equipment to personnel to future threats. The government says they will implement all of the review's 62 recommendations. Here is a summary of the government's response to the review. A Nato-first defence policy, with the UK's "biggest contribution" to the military alliance since it was founded in 1949 Move to "war-fighting readiness" as the armed forces' central purpose A "defence dividend", with defence investment used to drive growth, creating jobs and driving investment across the country Create a hybrid Royal Navy that uses aircraft, drones, warships, submarines to patrol the north Atlantic "and beyond" A "10-times more lethal" army, combining air defence, artificial intelligence, long-range weapons and land drone swarms A "next generation" RAF with new F-35 jets, Typhoon jets and autonomous aircraft New defence exports office in the Ministry of Defence, exporting to UK allies Save £6bn by 2029 with efficiency savings and changes to the civilian defence workforce Build 12 new attack submarines as part of the Aukus programme in partnership with Australia and the United States, with a new submarine delivered every 18 months £15bn investment in the sovereign warhead programme, as part of the renewal of the old Trident nuclear deterrent Programme would create 9,000 jobs and "thousands more" further down supply chains Small increase to the size of the regular army to 76,000 full-time soldiers after 2029 - although this has yet to be funded A fully-trained strategic reserve, ready to mobilise at any time Over £1.5bn extra funding until 2029 to improve accommodation for the UK armed forces Increase number of Armed Forces cadets by 30% and introduce a voluntary cadets gap year for school and college leavers Battlefield decisions about targets to be taken quicker with £1bn investment which will better join up weapons systems Establish a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to lead defensive and offensive cyber capabilities, as well as electromagnetic warfare - such as the ability to jam signals to drones or missiles £11bn annual budget for front-line kit Building at least six new munitions and energetics factories, backed by a £1.5bn government investment and creating over 1,000 jobs Building up to 7,000 long-range weapons, supporting around 800 jobs Invest in "world leading" drone capabilities and battlefield tech £400m investment in a UK defence innovation organisation £1bn new funding for a UK air and missile defence UK's aircraft carriers to become first "hybrid air wings" of a European country, housing drones, jets and long-range weapons.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Spending constrains Labour's defence review – but no harm in gradualism
Labour's defence review is full of contradictions. It paints a picture of a more dangerous world, with Britain facing 'multiple, direct threats' to its own security, particularly from nuclear-armed states such as Russia and China, and warns that the west's 'long-held military advantage is being eroded'. But when it comes to spending taxpayers' money, the exercise is considerably more cautious. The reviewers, a team of three led by former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, accept the spending envelope given to them by the prime minister, Keir Starmer: a gradual lift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and a looser promise to increase spending to 3% by the end of the next parliament. Although the armed forces have, Labour says, been 'hollowed out' in the last decade and a half, the 140-page document argues that a transformation to a military able to fight a war would take 10 years. There is not yet the money to start increasing the size of the British army, for example, whose target level will only be increased by 3,000 to 76,000 in the next parliament – as funding allows. Although, as Starmer argued, 'every citizen of this country has a role to play' in national security, the biggest burden seems to be falling on the youngest. Labour wants to expand school cadet forces by 30% by 2030 (and eventually reach 250,000) suggesting it believes a long-term solution to the problems of army recruitment is by influencing teenagers. In reality, there is likely to be no harm in gradualism. Britain is not under direct military threat and is not likely to be any time soon. The UK's most likely contribution to future European security is to continue providing support to Kyiv, or to other countries on Nato's eastern flank, which a newly aggressive Russia may choose to threaten – perhaps after agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Strategic reviews often do a poor job of predicting the future. The previous one, Boris Johnson's 2021 integrated review, failed to anticipate the return to a land war in Ukraine, and instead heralded a British tilt to the Indo-Pacific. The latest document emphasises the rise of state-based rivals, but if there was a sudden change in power at the Kremlin, the sense of increased threat could dissipate quickly. The question is, what else is necessary for security in an unpredictable world? On the one hand, it is right, as the review acknowledges, that the UK is 'already under daily attack' in cyberspace, with 89 'nationally significant' hacker attacks counted in the year to September 2024, though beyond the creation of a cyber-command within the Ministry of Defence, there is no further response to a problem that remains acute. But it is less clear that anxieties about Russian and Chinese nuclear stockpiles justify the UK investing unspecified sums in air-launched, so called battlefield nuclear weapons. The review itself is vague about the proposal, just calling for the UK to explore 'strengthening extended deterrence' with the US and Nato, though this would mean US B61-12 gravity bombs being stationed at RAF Lakenheath; weapons that would remain under US control unless a full-scale war broke out. There is a balance then between investing prudently in security and spending heavily on vanity projects with only a limited practical purpose. Spending on nuclear weapons programmes is already sharply rising – and is now 'over £100bn' over the next 10 years – although all the review acknowledges is that 'cost of the [defence nuclear] enterprise are increasing'. A heightened sense of concern should not exempt key areas of defence spending from detailed scrutiny.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
At a glance: Key points from government's defence strategy
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set out the government's defence strategy for the next so-called "root and branch" review of the UK's defence capability, led by former UK defence secretary and Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, looked at everything from equipment to personnel to future threats. The government says they will implement all of the review's 62 recommendations. Here is a summary of the government's response to the review. Strategic goals A Nato-first defence policy, with the UK's "biggest contribution" to the military alliance since it was founded in 1949Move to "war-fighting readiness" as the armed forces' central purposeA "defence dividend", with defence investment used to drive growth, creating jobs and driving investment across the country Army, Navy and Air Force Create a hybrid Royal Navy that uses aircraft, drones, warships, submarines to patrol the north Atlantic "and beyond"A "10-times more lethal" army, combining air defence, artificial intelligence, long-range weapons and land drone swarmsA "next generation" RAF with new F-35 jets, Typhoon jets and autonomous aircraftNew defence exports office in the Ministry of Defence, exporting to UK alliesSave £6bn by 2029 with efficiency savings and changes to the civilian defence workforce Nuclear plans Build 12 new attack submarines as part of the Aukus programme in partnership with Australia and the United States, with a new submarine delivered every 18 months£15bn investment in the sovereign warhead programme, as part of the renewal of the old Trident nuclear deterrentProgramme would create 9,000 jobs and "thousands more" further down supply chains Personnel and reserves Small increase to the size of the regular army to 76,000 full-time soldiers after 2029 - although this has yet to be fundedA fully-trained strategic reserve, ready to mobilise at any timeOver £1.5bn extra funding until 2029 to improve accommodation for the UK armed forcesIncrease number of Armed Forces cadets by 30% and introduce a voluntary cadets gap year for school and college leavers Cyber Battlefield decisions about targets to be taken quicker with £1bn investment which will better join up weapons systemsEstablish a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to lead defensive and offensive cyber capabilities, as well as electromagnetic warfare - such as the ability to jam signals to drones or missiles Weaponry, equipment and innovation £11bn annual budget for front-line kitBuilding at least six new munitions and energetics factories, backed by a £1.5bn government investment and creating over 1,000 jobsBuilding up to 7,000 long-range weapons, supporting around 800 jobsInvest in "world leading" drone capabilities and battlefield tech£400m investment in a UK defence innovation organisation£1bn new funding for a UK air and missile defenceUK's aircraft carriers to become first "hybrid air wings" of a European country, housing drones, jets and long-range weapons.
