CDS warns UK is experiencing the most dangerous period of any time in his 35-year career
The Chief of the Defence Staff has said the UK is in the "most dangerous period" he has known in his entire military career.
Speaking on BBC's Today Programme, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton highlighted the increasing threat posed by Russia.
He also warned the country may have to make different choices and different priorities to prepare the country's Armed Forces for the changing nature of warfare.
Sir Rich said: "In my 35-year career, this is the most dangerous period that I have known.
"And, as a consequence, it is important that we enhance the capability and the readiness of our Armed Forces alongside our allies.
"To deter our adversaries from doing something daft.
"And that's why it is important that we deliver on enhancements in our efficiency and deliver more capability and put it in the hands of our warfighters."
Sir Rich highlighted the growing threat of Russia to UK security and said the Kremlin is "raising the stakes".
"What we have seen over the last few years with the illegal invasion of Ukraine is Russia's willingness to use military force against another nation," he added.
"Closer to home, we have seen in 2026 more long range aviation from Russia.
"These are strategic aircraft that will go well into our own airspace.
"We've seen as many in 2026 as we saw in 2025.
"Nato scrambled 700 times in response to Russian activity.
"And so, we're seeing Russia probing, challenging, testing our defences, both traditional military defences, but also, as you heard from the head of GCHQ today, whether that's cyber-attacks or trying to smuggle technology and reckless sabotage and assassination attempts.
"So, Russia is definitely raising the stakes and risk crossing a line."
The CDS also said the Armed forces is adapting to major changes in warfare seen during the war in Ukraine and responded to comments made by former Defence Secretary and Strategic Defence Review author Lord Robertson that the UK armed forces are underprepared for war due to ‘corrosive complacency’ by the Government.
Sir Rich said: "I'm very clear that this is the most dangerous time I have known in my working life and it is important that society and all of us recognise and understand that.
"And that that may mean that we need to make different choices and different priorities.
"We need to spend more on defence and do it faster and the challenge for ministers is to make those difficult trade-off decisions.
"I am confident that the Prime Minister and ministers around him understand the threats that we face and I spend a lot of time with the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary, talking about these risks and threats.
"And so, I'm confident that that is understood but these are difficult decisions for ministers to make.
"Lord Robertson is right – I spend a lot of time with him. It's that that world is changing and we do need to step up and enhance our capability as the threat from potential adversaries grow."
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