Senior UK general says Ukraine war lessons should reshape defence priorities
One success story for the British Army is its mobilisation to train Ukrainian troops in the UK under Operation Interflex. (Photo: UK MoD Crown Copyright)
According to Maj Gen Charles Collins, the UK Assistant Chief of the General Staff, the Ukraine War has highlighted the British Army's shortcomings while also underlining the continuing need for boots on the ground in conflicts.
Writing in the British Army Review, Collins said that the focus on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency has left the army deficient in areas such as air defence, long-range fires, uncrewed aerial systems, and electronic warfare. He added that outdated assumptions about warfighting have led to a lack of preparedness for high-intensity combat.
However, sounding a note of optimism, he said that current Chief of the General Staff, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, has mobilised the army to correct course.
Related Articles
Will British Army Boxer IFVs feature the Patria Nemo mortar system?
Guns aplenty as British Army accelerates plans for new artillery
UK readies Ukrainian soldiers for Challenger tank operations
Collins said that the army's mobilisation under the Future Soldier plan remains a key focus, with five lines of effort. These include building a combat-credible force, supporting Ukraine through Operation Interflex training schemes, meeting the requirements of NATO's New Force Model, addressing productivity and reinforcing leadership in NATO. The army is believed to have already trained over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers and continues to enhance its capabilities in this area.
The mobilisation of the army in support of Ukraine is an acknowledgment that the return of visceral, high-intensity land warfare to Europe has thrown its core purpose into sharp relief. Collins said that it has repudiated the arguments that British policy should prioritise the cyber, space, air and maritime domains instead of land warfare.
However, he added that the army faces challenges in mobilising, as it is only three years into the decade of delivery for Future Soldier and has only delivered 40% of the promised organisational changes. Collins also acknowledged that the prevailing financial climate in the UK also poses a challenge, although Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may announce an increase in the defence budget
In conclusion, Collins said that despite some progress, challenges remain and the army must seek opportunities amongst them to accelerate its modernisation.
More from Land Warfare
-
MyDefence delivers counter-drone system to US Army ahead of livefire exercise
The Soldier-Kit system consists of detector, jammer, tablet and wideband antenna and is being evaluated as part of Project Flytrap 3.0 counter uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) exercise.
-
Arquus and Milrem push their UGVs fitted with long-range missiles
Arquus displayed the Drailer uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) integrating the Akeron LP long-range missile at the Techterre technology demonstrator event ahead of trials in September.
-
Czech CAESAR howitzer order at risk of cancellation
The Czech Republic ordered 52 CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie (CAESAR) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) in 2021 and added another 10 a year later. A cancellation of the programme would impact both the army’s capabilities and local industry which is involved in the manufacture.
-
Sweden turns to Nammo and Rheinmetall as world demand grows for 155mm shells
Demand for ammunition continues to increase with manufacturing capability growing to match. Sweden have turned to the two supply lines of Rheinmetall and Nammo as part of a Nordic effort to meet demand. The Polish Government has also announced a US$700 million investment to boost manufacture of munitions.
-
Malaysia signs for two additional GM400α air surveillance radars
The order is in addition to two systems ordered in 2023. It forms part of a family of systems which is becoming widely used and part of a growing demand for the capability, both in deliveries and requirements.