SDSR10:
two new carriers, with one equipped to allow full interoperability with key allies; Rollover to SDSR15
introduction of the more capable carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter instead of the vertical take off variant; Denied by contractor building the ships who was making the ships and had a far bigger stake/interest in the less capable VSTOL version
six state of the art Type 45 air defence destroyers; Done - and good they are but not enough of them
seven of the most advanced Astute-class hunter-killer submarines in the world; Delayed but some in service within SDSR10 timeframe
replacing Type 23 frigates with Type 26 frigates and reducing the total number of frigates and amphibious ships; Delayed
restructuring amphibious shipping to enable the landing of a Commando Group (up to 1,800 personnel); Done
five Multi-Role Brigades with a range of capabilities to operate across the variety of possible future conflicts; Done
a significant increase in Special Forces enabling manpower (medical, signals, logisticians); Done
reducing the Armys non deployable regional administrative structures and rationalising deployable HQs; Done
12 new Chinook heavy lift helicopters; In delivery
14 A330 strategic tanker and transport aircraft to replace the ageing VC10 and TriStar fleets; In delivery
the withdrawal of Nimrod MRA4 and the Harrier; Done
introduction of 22 A400M transport aircraft; In delivery
rationalising the defence estate through the sale of surplus land and running cost reductions; Massive screw ups by DIO mean that there is still large swathes of out of use estate not sold off
accelerating the re-basing of our forces from Germany; Well in progress
reducing the civilian workforce by around 25,000 and military personnel by around 17,000 by 2015. Pretty much complete
So for SDSR15, I predict:
More blah about the new flat-tops?
More blah about the A330s/A400Ms?
More blah about SCAVENGER - which is Reaper coming into core?
Loss of Sentinel?
Announcement on Future Combat Air System? (Taranis)
Shake up of DIO and actually getting some receipts in for some of the land? This will include the basing and airfields study?
More on the NEM and the use of Reserves? (Cost cutting in other words!)
Rationalisation of training? (single gateways for all 3 services?)
Some blah on MFTS?
Loss of some tanks?
Setting out a pathway for the new deterent? (Sea, land or airborne?)
More Army manpower reductions?
There you go, my two-penneth
LJ