You can see why youngsters want to join the RN, a good slice of good old fashioned adventure, first rate trade training and a host of new ships to deploy on ... What's not to like...SW1 wrote: ↑01 Mar 2023, 18:43 https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... boundaries
The Royal Navy will push technological boundaries and share its drug-busting and maritime security expertise in the second largest naval exercise in the world getting under way across the Middle East.
From Cyprus to Kenya, and Bahrain and the Arabian Sea, UK forces will be heavily engaged for the next three weeks on International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 23 designed to tackle threats as varied as terrorism, smuggling, sea mines and aerial drone attacks.
All the Royal Navy’s Gulf-based ships are engaged in the exercise, supported by expert dive/bomb disposal teams flown out from the UK, Royal Marines boarding and search specialists, drone operators and medics, with the RAF providing aerial support from its base at Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Support ship RFA Cardigan Bay will serve as a floating testbed for a string of technology trials which could revolutionise naval warfare – and not just in the Gulf region.
In addition to Royal Navy units, a number of the UK’s international partners will also be using the vessel as a hub for testing kit of their own.
Royal Marines and Royal Navy sailors will also be based in Kenya sharing their expertise in board and search operations. These have yielded spectacular results over the past decade, seizing millions of pounds of illegal narcotics as well as weapons caches.
General UK Defence Discussion
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mrclark303
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
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Tempest414
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
The Army was more on the move in 2022 it deployed troop and kit to
72 CH-2 , 120 Warrior , 30 Bulldog , 6 AS-90 plus Logistics and 2500+ troops to the Baltic
Light Mech battle group to Norway = 1400 troops
Para battle group with 500 vehicles and 2000 troops to North Macedonia
Armoured and recce vehicles plus logistics with 1200 troops to Poland
Field HQ with 800 vehicles and 3500 troops to Germany
on top of the standing deployments
72 CH-2 , 120 Warrior , 30 Bulldog , 6 AS-90 plus Logistics and 2500+ troops to the Baltic
Light Mech battle group to Norway = 1400 troops
Para battle group with 500 vehicles and 2000 troops to North Macedonia
Armoured and recce vehicles plus logistics with 1200 troops to Poland
Field HQ with 800 vehicles and 3500 troops to Germany
on top of the standing deployments
Re: General UK Defence Discussion
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politic ... 309-96170/
Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy have finalized a plan to hold defense ministerial talks in Tokyo on March 16, according to several Japanese government sources.
The three countries expect to agree on a policy of further expansion of defense cooperation by accelerating talks on a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by the three countries.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto will attend the meeting.
Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy have finalized a plan to hold defense ministerial talks in Tokyo on March 16, according to several Japanese government sources.
The three countries expect to agree on a policy of further expansion of defense cooperation by accelerating talks on a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by the three countries.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto will attend the meeting.
Re: General UK Defence Discussion
https://www.wsj.com/articles/britain-bu ... a-b7c6ca05
The U.K. government said Sunday that it would spend an extra $6 billion investing in its nuclear-defense capabilities and replenishing munitions stockpiles, as part of a refreshed national-security review that aims to bolster support to Ukraine and deter an increasingly assertive China.
In a written statement, the British government said it would spend the extra funds over the next two years to reinforce its stretched military. The bulk of those funds would go into the country’s nuclear program, including enhanced support for its submarine fleet. The government is also buying fresh ammunition supplies to replace the equipment that it has given to Ukraine during its war with Russia.
But the government’s budget is stretched after the worst of the pandemic, and the nation’s economy is stagnating as inflation bites. Indeed, while the U.K. had previously committed to accelerating military spending to 2.5% of annual economic output by 2030 from roughly 2.2% currently, it said Sunday that was a long-term target.
The national-security review comes two years after the ruling Conservative government published a reassessment of Britain’s foreign-policy priorities, called the Integrated Review. That review argued that the world order that the U.K. had helped to build after World War II was crumbling and that globalization was in retreat.
The government on Sunday didn’t spell out how it would alter its strategy to counter China in its refreshed review, simply saying it would “adapt our approach” to the country. Up until now the U.K. has sought to maintain a nuanced position toward China, saying that it would still pursue trade links with the country while investing in defending against China’s growing assertiveness. The security review in 2021 concluded that China is “the biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security” but stopped short of concluding it was a threat to national security.
The U.K. plans to invest more in Mandarin-language training and diplomatic Chinese expertise, among other goals. It also intends to strengthen its sanctions enforcement.
The U.K. government said Sunday that it would spend an extra $6 billion investing in its nuclear-defense capabilities and replenishing munitions stockpiles, as part of a refreshed national-security review that aims to bolster support to Ukraine and deter an increasingly assertive China.
In a written statement, the British government said it would spend the extra funds over the next two years to reinforce its stretched military. The bulk of those funds would go into the country’s nuclear program, including enhanced support for its submarine fleet. The government is also buying fresh ammunition supplies to replace the equipment that it has given to Ukraine during its war with Russia.
But the government’s budget is stretched after the worst of the pandemic, and the nation’s economy is stagnating as inflation bites. Indeed, while the U.K. had previously committed to accelerating military spending to 2.5% of annual economic output by 2030 from roughly 2.2% currently, it said Sunday that was a long-term target.
The national-security review comes two years after the ruling Conservative government published a reassessment of Britain’s foreign-policy priorities, called the Integrated Review. That review argued that the world order that the U.K. had helped to build after World War II was crumbling and that globalization was in retreat.
The government on Sunday didn’t spell out how it would alter its strategy to counter China in its refreshed review, simply saying it would “adapt our approach” to the country. Up until now the U.K. has sought to maintain a nuanced position toward China, saying that it would still pursue trade links with the country while investing in defending against China’s growing assertiveness. The security review in 2021 concluded that China is “the biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security” but stopped short of concluding it was a threat to national security.
The U.K. plans to invest more in Mandarin-language training and diplomatic Chinese expertise, among other goals. It also intends to strengthen its sanctions enforcement.
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dmereifield
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
So extra funds merely to cover overspends of the nuclear programme and to replace stocks given to Ukraine....pathetic
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wargame_insomniac
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
From BBC news articledmereifield wrote: ↑12 Mar 2023, 22:20 So extra funds merely to cover overspends of the nuclear programme and to replace stocks given to Ukraine....pathetic
"Downing Street said £3bn from the extra spending would be earmarked to support the pact, along with boosting industrial infrastructure and servicing UK submarines.
The remaining £1.9bn will be used to replace weapons sent to Ukraine and improve the UK's munitions infrastructure."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64932951
So this suggests nothing to do with previous "overspends of the nuclear programme" but more future spending on AUKUS.
And so what that they are replacing the munitions sent to Ukraine. We have all been calling for them to imrpove the UK munitions holding and I can't see why you are being critical for them for doing so.
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dmereifield
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
If the £3 bn is new investment rather than overspends, good.
£1.9 bn for backfilling - Well, how much is the value of munitions, hardware, consumables etc that we've donated? Genuine question. Don't get me wrong, I want to provide everything we reasonably can to Ukraine, but HMG then needs to fund replacements in addition to additional investment to respond to the increased security threat.
£1.9 bn for backfilling - Well, how much is the value of munitions, hardware, consumables etc that we've donated? Genuine question. Don't get me wrong, I want to provide everything we reasonably can to Ukraine, but HMG then needs to fund replacements in addition to additional investment to respond to the increased security threat.
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wargame_insomniac
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
UK Parliament Research Briefing @ Wednesday, 15 February, 2023:dmereifield wrote: ↑12 Mar 2023, 23:28 If the £3 bn is new investment rather than overspends, good.
£1.9 bn for backfilling - Well, how much is the value of munitions, hardware, consumables etc that we've donated? Genuine question. Don't get me wrong, I want to provide everything we reasonably can to Ukraine, but HMG then needs to fund replacements in addition to additional investment to respond to the increased security threat.
"As the second largest donor, the UK has committed £2.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine so far and has pledged to match that assistance in 2023."
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/re ... /cbp-9477/
So that is total military assistance from UK as at that date. Now we don't know the exact breakdown. But I presume that total includes the cost of vehicles transferred, so Challenger 2 tanks AS90 SPG, M270 MLRS, older AFVs and APCs.
So hopefully the £1.9m will restock at least the value of expendable munitions sent inluding NLAW and Javelins and shells.
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dmereifield
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
Thanks for the info. It doesn't sound like the funds are nearly enough to replenish and increase stockswargame_insomniac wrote: ↑13 Mar 2023, 00:21UK Parliament Research Briefing @ Wednesday, 15 February, 2023:dmereifield wrote: ↑12 Mar 2023, 23:28 If the £3 bn is new investment rather than overspends, good.
£1.9 bn for backfilling - Well, how much is the value of munitions, hardware, consumables etc that we've donated? Genuine question. Don't get me wrong, I want to provide everything we reasonably can to Ukraine, but HMG then needs to fund replacements in addition to additional investment to respond to the increased security threat.
"As the second largest donor, the UK has committed £2.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine so far and has pledged to match that assistance in 2023."
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/re ... /cbp-9477/
So that is total military assistance from UK as at that date. Now we don't know the exact breakdown. But I presume that total includes the cost of vehicles transferred, so Challenger 2 tanks AS90 SPG, M270 MLRS, older AFVs and APCs.
So hopefully the £1.9m will restock at least the value of expendable munitions sent inluding NLAW and Javelins and shells.
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TheLoneRanger
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... -behind-us
>> Not suprised that UK is falling down the rankings. We have nothing to sell !!! The goverment or UK MOD does nothing to support the development of new systems in the UK - whereas France has a buy French first policy !!!. This means France has developed products, purchased them itself and is in a position to sell something to someone.
>> Not suprised that UK is falling down the rankings. We have nothing to sell !!! The goverment or UK MOD does nothing to support the development of new systems in the UK - whereas France has a buy French first policy !!!. This means France has developed products, purchased them itself and is in a position to sell something to someone.
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Re: General UK Defence Discussion
Britain's Shrinking Military - From Cold War Colossus to Cash-Strapped Shadow
(Mark Felton Productions) 19th March 2023
(Mark Felton Productions) 19th March 2023
War with Russia is often spoken of in 2023, but the drastic reduction in the size of Britain's armed forces is often overlooked. Here, I compare the sizes of Britain's military in 1991, when it was specifically trained and deployed to resist a Soviet assault into Western Europe, and 2023. The figures are fairly shocking, something the US government recently noted as well.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries.