Defence Secretary has outlined the global
role of the UK’s Armed Forces and defence industry after leaving
the European Union and beyond in a speech at RUSI today.
The Defence Secretary acknowledged that the UK faces a world of
competing powers, hostile states and stateless ideologies, who
are happy to operate in a ‘grey zone’ between war and peace. He
claimed it is crucial that Britain’s Armed Forces and defence
infrastructure are ready to meet these challenges and do not
stand still as the world moves forward, making a raft of
announcements to support that goal.
Defence Secretary said:
The UK is a global power with truly global interests. A nation
with the fifth biggest economy on the planet. A nation with the
world’s fifth biggest Defence budget and the second largest
Defence exporter. And since the new Global Great Game will be
played on a global playing field, we must be prepared to
compete for our interests and our values far, far from home.
New strategic capacity
To support this aspiration, the Defence Secretary announced new
strategic assets that will allow Britain to meet the global
challenges the future might hold.
Two new Littoral Strike Groups are to be created. Complete with
escorts, support vessels and helicopters, one would be based to
the East of Suez in the Indo-Pacific and one based to the West of
Suez in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Baltic.
To compliment these groups, there will be a Warfighting Division
with troops able to deploy from our bases at home and in Germany.
This will all ensure we have a global force, capable of deploying
around the world in a matter of days.
Using our world class assets
This ability to remain a global force and to protect the UK at
home and abroad depends not only on personnel but also the
equipment they rely on. The Defence Secretary announced that HMS
Queen Elizabeth’s first operational mission will include the
Mediterranean, Middle East and the Pacific. She will have British
and American F35s embedded in her air wing, enhancing the reach
and lethality of our forces.
Increasing our air
power
The RAF will also grow the number of Typhoon squadrons from five
to seven - equipping them with world leading radar and upgraded
deep strike Storm Shadow cruise missiles. This is vital following
the recent retirement of the Tornado jet, proving that the UK is
still committed to defending ourselves and our allies across the
world.
Embracing new technology, the Defence Secretary also committed to
use the Transformation Fund to develop swarm squadrons of network
enabled drones capable of confusing the enemy and overwhelming
their air defences.
The Defence Secretary concluded by highlighting that Britain has
always been an outward looking nation. Faced with our adversaries
upping their spending and investing in technology, the Armed
Forces must respond by strengthening our global presence, as well
as enhancing our lethality and increasing our mass.
