Why the British Army may be doomed to fail in high-intensity conflicts
Improving air defence inventory is among the main concerns. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Former Chiefs of Defence Staff warn that capability gaps as well as budget and stockpile issues are putting the readiness of the UK armed forces in jeopardy.
The war in Ukraine has highlighted several issues in the British Army which could affect its performance in high-intensity conflicts. In recent sessions of the UK Parliament Defence Committee, former Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) warn that capability gaps as well as budget and stockpile issues will impact the readiness of the service.
CDS from 2018 to 2021, Gen (Retd) Nick Carter claimed that the army is ‘at the moment the weakest service’. ‘I would suggest it to pull its weight in the sort of world that we now find ourselves’, he pointed out.
Improving the air defence inventory
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Land Warfare
-
![“A survivable architecture”: why resilient communications are no longer a luxury]()
“A survivable architecture”: why resilient communications are no longer a luxury
In Conversation… Military communications must adapt to a rapidly evolving battlespace, characterised by decentralised forces and an increasingly contested electromagnetic spectrum. To survive and thrive, it is vital to prioritise resilient systems and networks, Faisal Munir, President – Mission-Critical Communications at L3Harris Technologies, told Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan.
-
![New uses for proven weapons: adapting the Chain Gun for CUAS]()
New uses for proven weapons: adapting the Chain Gun for CUAS
Northrop Grumman’s M230LF Chain Gun is finding a growing role in countering uncrewed aerial systems, with the 30mm weapon already deployed to Ukraine and adopted by US forces.
-
![KNDS points RCH 155 towards longer-range artillery future]()
KNDS points RCH 155 towards longer-range artillery future
KNDS Deutschland has fitted a tracked RCH 155 with a new KNDS France 155mm/58cal ordnance, opening a potential path towards significantly longer-range artillery and a future beyond the current NATO standard.
-
![Companies downselected for British Army vehicle programme]()
Companies downselected for British Army vehicle programme
It is believed that three companies did not make the downselect but a dark horse in Spain’s Iturri is believed to have got through.
