UK Strategic Defence Review 2020 - get your bids in now ladies & gents
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
A56,
The exact implications for defence are due to be revealed next week with the publication of the Defence Command Paper on 22 March.
The exact implications for defence are due to be revealed next week with the publication of the Defence Command Paper on 22 March.
Thread Starter
From the above Link, re a total lifetime Programme past the current 48 delivered/ordered, not sure how sound the 138 figure ever has been. Paying Guest suggests one source for it......
Others may know more! One hopes!!!!!! Maybe the Defence Command Paper on 22/3 will tell us more.
Yes the details (or such details as we're going to get) will be in next week's command paper.
The most specific mentions in today's strategy paper are in a list in Annex A on page 103, eg:
The most specific mentions in today's strategy paper are in a list in Annex A on page 103, eg:
"Develop the next generation of naval vessels, including Type 32 frigates and Fleet Solid Support ships, and deliver our plans for eight Type 26 and five Type 31 frigates. • Progress our Carrier Strike capabilities, with at least 48 F-35s by 2025. • Develop the Future Combat Air System for the RAF, along with delivering upgraded Typhoon radars."
The reference to "at least" 48 F35s by 2025 is a slightly odd formulation if the recent Times rumours are true, although I'm not sure whether they could magic up any more than that anyway in that timeframe. Also answering questions after his statement in the house today, Boris did at one point state that by the end of this decade the RN would have 24 frigates and destroyers (compared to 19 today, or 15 according to Boris - the latter figure is probably not far off if it takes account of vessels effectively laid up). An increase to 24 has been rumoured but this may be the first official reference to that number.
P.70
12. The first responsibility of the Government is to defend the UK and its citizens.
This includes our responsibility to ensure the security of the fourteen Overseas Territories (OTs) and the Crown Dependencies of the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man. We also have responsibilities to the five million British people that live outside the UK, and to British nationals on visits overseas.
In fulfilling these responsibilities, our priority actions will be:
To secure British territory against physical incursions. The Royal Navy will remain active in the UK’s territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone, including by investing in new capabilities to protect undersea CNI. The Royal Air Force (RAF) will continue to provide a 24-hour quick reaction alert force to defend UK airspace and our new Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will patrol the North Atlantic from their base at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
P.71
To modernise the UK armed forces, maintaining a full spectrum of capabilities, as set out in the Defence Command Paper. We will prioritise the development and integration of new technologies - including those required for near-peer, high-tech warfighting - and a 'digital backbone' to enable multi-domain operations and interoperability with allies and partners. In the Euro-Atlantic, the UK will be one of only two NATO Allies to bring to bear nuclear, offensive cyber, precision strike weapons and fifth-generation strike aircraft. We will also contribute to missile defence, to space awareness and resilience (including through a new Space Command) and to CBRN resilience. A new generation of warships will support
our historic role in keeping the North Atlantic open. Our highly mobile airborne and amphibious forces will be able to reinforce Allies at short notice. Our land force will undergo its most comprehensive modernisation for two decades, becoming better integrated with other domains, better able to intervene quickly and effectively over large distances, better protected from electronic, air and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle threats, and better able to engage an adversary at long range. Our Special Forces will be ready to operate in the most hostile environments and against our most sophisticated adversaries. With international partners including Italy and Sweden, we will continue to develop FCAS as a replacement for our Typhoon fast jets, drawing on ground-breaking technologies from the defence sector and beyond.
P.98
A Defence Command Paper will be published alongside the Integrated Review, (this is due on 22 March!) setting out plans for defence in more detail. We intend to publish further strategies, including on resilience, cyber and international development, in due course.
Future SRs will provide further opportunities to align spending plans with the priorities set by the Integrated Review.
P.102
3. Strengthening security and defence at home and overseas
Defence (MOD)
Over £24 bn increase in cash terms over four years, including at least £6.6bn of R&D (as mentioned above) to maintain a cutting-edge military. This reaffirms the UK's commitment to its allies, making the UK the largest European spender on defence in NATO and the second largest in the Alliance.
The additional funding in this settlement will:
Enable research into AI and other battle-winning technologies.
Reshape the UK's armed forces for a more competitive age.
Establish a new Space Command and enhance the breadth of our space capabilities.
Continue the renewal of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Develop the next generation of naval vessels, including Type 32 frigates and Fleet Solid Support ships, and deliver our plans for eight Type 26 and five Type 31 frigates.
Progress our Carrier Strike capabilities, with at least 48 F-35s by 2025.
Develop the Future Combat Air System for the RAF, along with delivering upgraded Typhoon radars.
Enhance the UK's position as a responsible, democratic cyber power (as mentioned above).
12. The first responsibility of the Government is to defend the UK and its citizens.
This includes our responsibility to ensure the security of the fourteen Overseas Territories (OTs) and the Crown Dependencies of the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man. We also have responsibilities to the five million British people that live outside the UK, and to British nationals on visits overseas.
In fulfilling these responsibilities, our priority actions will be:
To secure British territory against physical incursions. The Royal Navy will remain active in the UK’s territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone, including by investing in new capabilities to protect undersea CNI. The Royal Air Force (RAF) will continue to provide a 24-hour quick reaction alert force to defend UK airspace and our new Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will patrol the North Atlantic from their base at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
P.71
To modernise the UK armed forces, maintaining a full spectrum of capabilities, as set out in the Defence Command Paper. We will prioritise the development and integration of new technologies - including those required for near-peer, high-tech warfighting - and a 'digital backbone' to enable multi-domain operations and interoperability with allies and partners. In the Euro-Atlantic, the UK will be one of only two NATO Allies to bring to bear nuclear, offensive cyber, precision strike weapons and fifth-generation strike aircraft. We will also contribute to missile defence, to space awareness and resilience (including through a new Space Command) and to CBRN resilience. A new generation of warships will support
our historic role in keeping the North Atlantic open. Our highly mobile airborne and amphibious forces will be able to reinforce Allies at short notice. Our land force will undergo its most comprehensive modernisation for two decades, becoming better integrated with other domains, better able to intervene quickly and effectively over large distances, better protected from electronic, air and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle threats, and better able to engage an adversary at long range. Our Special Forces will be ready to operate in the most hostile environments and against our most sophisticated adversaries. With international partners including Italy and Sweden, we will continue to develop FCAS as a replacement for our Typhoon fast jets, drawing on ground-breaking technologies from the defence sector and beyond.
P.98
A Defence Command Paper will be published alongside the Integrated Review, (this is due on 22 March!) setting out plans for defence in more detail. We intend to publish further strategies, including on resilience, cyber and international development, in due course.
Future SRs will provide further opportunities to align spending plans with the priorities set by the Integrated Review.
P.102
3. Strengthening security and defence at home and overseas
Defence (MOD)
Over £24 bn increase in cash terms over four years, including at least £6.6bn of R&D (as mentioned above) to maintain a cutting-edge military. This reaffirms the UK's commitment to its allies, making the UK the largest European spender on defence in NATO and the second largest in the Alliance.
The additional funding in this settlement will:
Enable research into AI and other battle-winning technologies.
Reshape the UK's armed forces for a more competitive age.
Establish a new Space Command and enhance the breadth of our space capabilities.
Continue the renewal of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Develop the next generation of naval vessels, including Type 32 frigates and Fleet Solid Support ships, and deliver our plans for eight Type 26 and five Type 31 frigates.
Progress our Carrier Strike capabilities, with at least 48 F-35s by 2025.
Develop the Future Combat Air System for the RAF, along with delivering upgraded Typhoon radars.
Enhance the UK's position as a responsible, democratic cyber power (as mentioned above).
I wonder what all this means for the Tranche 1 Typhoons?
Thread Starter
Yesterdays document is like the UK Budget - its all headlines, all positive spin
the real horrors are always deeply buried, often in other documents, and will emerge with far less glossy presentation
the real horrors are always deeply buried, often in other documents, and will emerge with far less glossy presentation
I know not, but I strongly suspect binned - a good thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mil-26Man View Post
So, as of now the UK has no official programme of record when it comes to F-35 numbers?
Mil-26Man, I've chucked my 50p's worth in here on this - Future Carrier (Including Costs)
From the above Link, re a total lifetime Programme past the current 48 delivered/ordered, not sure how sound the 138 figure ever has been. Paying Guest suggests one source for it......
Others may know more! One hopes!!!!!! Maybe the Defence Command Paper on 22/3 will tell us more.
Originally Posted by Mil-26Man View Post
So, as of now the UK has no official programme of record when it comes to F-35 numbers?
Mil-26Man, I've chucked my 50p's worth in here on this - Future Carrier (Including Costs)
From the above Link, re a total lifetime Programme past the current 48 delivered/ordered, not sure how sound the 138 figure ever has been. Paying Guest suggests one source for it......
Others may know more! One hopes!!!!!! Maybe the Defence Command Paper on 22/3 will tell us more.
I strongly suspect you're right.
But why a good thing?
Two squadron's worth of Tranche 1s surely gives the RAF a worthwhile mini-fleet for the Falklands, for QRA, for adversary use, etc.? Keeping hours off the Tranche 2/3 aircraft.
Or, given a cheap Spanish-style upgrade you could remove obsolescence, provide software commonality, and make them compatible with Meteor, Storm Shadow and AESA.
It also avoids the bad optics of:
a) the RAF throwing away perfectly good airframes with plenty of hours left on them
b) an inevitable reduction in FJ force strength by at least two squadrons.
What's not to like?
What am I missing?
With the Spanish upgrade, RAF Tranche 1 jets could have done this:
But why a good thing?
Two squadron's worth of Tranche 1s surely gives the RAF a worthwhile mini-fleet for the Falklands, for QRA, for adversary use, etc.? Keeping hours off the Tranche 2/3 aircraft.
Or, given a cheap Spanish-style upgrade you could remove obsolescence, provide software commonality, and make them compatible with Meteor, Storm Shadow and AESA.
It also avoids the bad optics of:
a) the RAF throwing away perfectly good airframes with plenty of hours left on them
b) an inevitable reduction in FJ force strength by at least two squadrons.
What's not to like?
What am I missing?
With the Spanish upgrade, RAF Tranche 1 jets could have done this:
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Here's a more direct link to an official .pdf copy of the review.
Global Britain in a competitive age (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Global Britain in a competitive age (publishing.service.gov.uk)
To secure British territory against physical incursions. The Royal Navy will remain active in the UK’s territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone, including by investing in new capabilities to protect undersea CNI. The Royal Air Force (RAF) will continue to provide a 24-hour quick reaction alert force to defend UK airspace and our new Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will patrol the North Atlantic from their base at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
Develop the Future Combat Air System for the RAF, along with delivering upgraded Typhoon radars.
Develop the Future Combat Air System for the RAF, along with delivering upgraded Typhoon radars.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Politico London Playbook
ARMY AUSTERITY
Senior members of the Armed Forces face future pay cuts as part of a comprehensive review into giving lower ranks more money, the Telegraph hears. External consultants are expected to report back on the plans in 18 months.
ARMY AUSTERITY
Senior members of the Armed Forces face future pay cuts as part of a comprehensive review into giving lower ranks more money, the Telegraph hears. External consultants are expected to report back on the plans in 18 months.
Senior members of the Armed Forces face future pay cuts as part of a comprehensive review into giving lower ranks more money, the Telegraph hears. External consultants are expected to report back on the plans in 18 months.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b...ment-k0kfckkw3
Army creates Ranger regiment to free up Special Forces
Hundreds of highly trained soldiers will be moved into a new special operations brigade that will deploy into hostile territory as part of a significant restructuring of the army.
The Ranger Regiment will comprise four battalions of about 250 personnel who will be specially selected from across the infantry and will take over dangerous missions normally carried out by Special Forces. Their role, modelled on the Green Berets, the US army’s unconventional warfare specialists, will include carrying out cyberattacks and electronic warfare and gathering intelligence backed by new technology such as drones.
The announcement of the 1,000-strong brigade came as military chiefs sought to defend looming cuts to the army by insisting that the new force would be more lethal.
Soldiers in the Rangers will undergo a selection process that will test their fighting skills as well as “brain power” and they will be expected to be “older and wiser”, having carried out at least a couple of tours. “What this entails is highly trained empowered specialists at the heart of army operations,” said Major Tom Foulkes-Arnold, 36, as the army carried out a mock exercise to show how they will operate in a future conflict.
The military wants to free up elite Special Forces troops so they can carry out the riskiest missions and have other specialised forces carry out their traditional roles. It is one of the changes to the army that will be announced in the defence command paper published on Monday that will outline cuts and investments to the military. Under the plans, the Rangers will support foreign nations or proxies with training or on dangerous counterterrorism operations and will then pass on information they have gathered to a new-look Royal Marine Commando force that will carry out the fighting.
Small teams of commandos, described as “Special Force minus” by Dan Cheesman, chief technology officer, will be given state-of-the-art technology such as drones that can deliver supplies and flying grenades.
The grenade drones, which he compared to the Quidditch “snitch” in Harry Potter, can be flown through holes in the walls of enemy compounds and take out insurgent fighters on the battlefield. The grenades were developed by DefendTex, an Australian company, have a maximum range of 12.5 miles and can fly in a swarm with other drones.
Speaking at a demonstration of the two new special operations forces at Bovington military camp in Dorset, the head of the army, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, said that the first Ranger battalion would be ready by Christmas and could deploy to east Africa next year.
Mozambique and Somalia are believed to be two of the countries under consideration for the first deployment.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...nade-launchers
Army creates Ranger regiment to free up Special Forces
Hundreds of highly trained soldiers will be moved into a new special operations brigade that will deploy into hostile territory as part of a significant restructuring of the army.
The Ranger Regiment will comprise four battalions of about 250 personnel who will be specially selected from across the infantry and will take over dangerous missions normally carried out by Special Forces. Their role, modelled on the Green Berets, the US army’s unconventional warfare specialists, will include carrying out cyberattacks and electronic warfare and gathering intelligence backed by new technology such as drones.
The announcement of the 1,000-strong brigade came as military chiefs sought to defend looming cuts to the army by insisting that the new force would be more lethal.
Soldiers in the Rangers will undergo a selection process that will test their fighting skills as well as “brain power” and they will be expected to be “older and wiser”, having carried out at least a couple of tours. “What this entails is highly trained empowered specialists at the heart of army operations,” said Major Tom Foulkes-Arnold, 36, as the army carried out a mock exercise to show how they will operate in a future conflict.
The military wants to free up elite Special Forces troops so they can carry out the riskiest missions and have other specialised forces carry out their traditional roles. It is one of the changes to the army that will be announced in the defence command paper published on Monday that will outline cuts and investments to the military. Under the plans, the Rangers will support foreign nations or proxies with training or on dangerous counterterrorism operations and will then pass on information they have gathered to a new-look Royal Marine Commando force that will carry out the fighting.
Small teams of commandos, described as “Special Force minus” by Dan Cheesman, chief technology officer, will be given state-of-the-art technology such as drones that can deliver supplies and flying grenades.
The grenade drones, which he compared to the Quidditch “snitch” in Harry Potter, can be flown through holes in the walls of enemy compounds and take out insurgent fighters on the battlefield. The grenades were developed by DefendTex, an Australian company, have a maximum range of 12.5 miles and can fly in a swarm with other drones.
Speaking at a demonstration of the two new special operations forces at Bovington military camp in Dorset, the head of the army, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, said that the first Ranger battalion would be ready by Christmas and could deploy to east Africa next year.
Mozambique and Somalia are believed to be two of the countries under consideration for the first deployment.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...nade-launchers
Politico London Playbook
ARMY AUSTERITY
Senior members of the Armed Forces face future pay cuts as part of a comprehensive review into giving lower ranks more money, the Telegraph hears. External consultants are expected to report back on the plans in 18 months.
ARMY AUSTERITY
Senior members of the Armed Forces face future pay cuts as part of a comprehensive review into giving lower ranks more money, the Telegraph hears. External consultants are expected to report back on the plans in 18 months.
The report will make zero difference to anybody in their current position, as cutting people's pay will see them leaving the services quickly and a shortage will result.
It will make claims that going forward the pay for a new Admirals pay should be reduced but nothing will happen as there are not many and few will be appointed.
More political posturing and spinning.
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[QUOTESmall teams of commandos, described as “Special Force minus” ....][/QUOTE]
Well calling any unit "minus" will do wonders for morale and service banter!
Well calling any unit "minus" will do wonders for morale and service banter!
