Services weakened by lack of funding but tide is turning, says head of the Armed Forces
The Armed Forces have been battling a level of underinvestment that has left them not as strong as they could be, the head of the three services has warned.
Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there were deficiencies in personnel, training, technology and stockpiles of munitions.
However, he said the immediate financial challenges were being addressed.
Spending target
The Government has ordered a Strategic Defence Review as it considers how to learn the lessons from the war in Ukraine and respond to a world in which Russia is working more closely with China, Iran and North Korea.
Sir Keir Starmer has committed to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product, a measure of the size of the economy, but has not said when the Government will meet that ambition.
Adm Sir Tony, who was addressing the Royal United Services Institute's (Rusi) land warfare conference, said: "There are near-term financial challenges to work through.
"We're addressing historic underinvestment, and beneath the headline capabilities there are deficiencies in people equipment, stockpiles, training and technology."
Putting it right
He added: "We need the humility to recognise that we're not as strong as we could be. And then the determination and focus to put this right."
Adm Sir Tony said he wanted to learn from Ukraine, pointing out how Kyiv's armed forces have proven able to take on Russia's Black Sea fleet without a substantial navy of their own.
"I want a British Army that can follow suit to become an Army that can hold Russia at risk if SACEUR [Nato's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe] sees that necessity," he said.
"An Army equipped with hypersonic missiles and battalions of one-way attack drones, an Army that serves as a disruptor in Nato, challenging the alliance to push the boundaries of technology and lethality."
An honest assessment
Adm Sir Tony said the war in Ukraine had been dire for Russia, with its armed forces taking 550,000 casualties.
However, he said Russia still poses a threat, even if it is unlikely to attack a member of the Nato alliance – at least not directly.
"While Putin may not directly attack a Nato member in such an overt manner... we have seen that he's able to threaten us in other ways, in cyber and space and underwater, where our energy infrastructure and digital networks are most vulnerable," he said.
"Our role as military leaders is to reassure the nation and stiffen its resolve.
"And our advice to ministers needs to be grounded in a thorough and honest assessment of the threats we face."
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