I agree with all of this expect the part about the army being smaller it is already at its lowest levels since before the nepolionic war. Better equipped with a different look at what might be needed and what areas they should concentrate on though is a big yes from me.Repulse wrote:Lord Jim, if we are set to carry on as-is with a little more money to plug the holes, this will be a disaster. The Strategy piece is key - but I’m taking from the PM’s statement to “renew the RNs position as the foremost naval power in Europe” that a course is being set.
The days of large scale land operations or nation building are far in the past; we can’t afford it, and even if we did it’s done very little for world stability. Neither does the UK need to focus on the continental BAOR mentality, other EU nations in particular Germany and Poland can and should do this. The UK’s contribution to NATO should be based on helping to secure the North Atlantic, and keeping Russia pinned in in the far North and in the Eastern Med.
Also, the Parachute regiment and other ‘elite’ light infantry regiments should be taking a lead from the future commando force concept.
The regular Army can and should be better equipped, more mobile, but smaller. There is though an argument for a larger reserve force. However, it must use the money already allocated much better than it has done to date.
The RAF is and will do ok - it’s primary role is QRA, surveillance, air superiority, logistics, long range unmanned strike, manned strike (via CEPP and land bases such as Cyprus) and now Space. On the whole it has what it needs already.
Strategy is about making hard decisions that match the requirement. It’s not about being seen to be fair to all three services in equal measure. The UK having a global presence is always going to be primarily maritime. Let’s deliver a real strategy or live with the consequences.
For me the 3 specialist forces of the RM, 16AAR and the Gurkers should have more focus and better equipped. This along with getting the right variants of things like boxers and consolidate around a smaller set of vehicle families.