Russia-Ukraine war challenges UK force structure assumptions (Opinion)
Will the timeline for withdrawal of the RAF Typhoon Tranche 1 force be reassessed in light of the Russian-Ukrainian war? (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Barely a year after the publication of the Integrated Review, the UK MoD now finds itself observing a major conflict in Europe, and it will have to draw conclusions on what this means for force structures and presence.
The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine represents the first time in decades that military forces have fought what could be considered a ‘conventional war’ in Europe. The scenes being broadcast across the media and on social media show how modern warfare can, in some ways, be incredibly traditional, but they also highlight how much has changed.
Although the war is still in its early days, it is clear a range of lessons are being identified that will drive military thinking for many years to come. Even at this easy stage there are clear indications that, for the UK at least,
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