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27 Jun 24. British Army must be ‘twice as lethal’, says new chief.
The Army must become twice as lethal in the next three years, its new chief has said.
General Sir Roland Walker, a former Special Forces chief, made the comments in a video posted by the Army after he took up the post of Chief of the General Staff earlier this month.
Gen Sir Roland said: “The only real measurement of an army is its fighting power, is lethality in the face of very real and converging threats.
“In the near term, my challenge to the British Army is to double that lethality in three years and treble it by the end of the decade.”
Gen Sir Roland, an Afghan war hero who survived a Taliban assassination attempt, has replaced General Sir Patrick Sanders as the Army chief.
He has taken the most senior role in the Army as it faces its biggest troop cuts in history in the midst of the Ukraine war.
In comments aired by the Army on its LinkedIn page, Gen Sir Roland added that “electronic warfare, uncrewed systems, air defence, long-range fires, plus logistics and stockpiles” would be “the stars to steer by” when running the Army.
Gen Sir Roland added that in the near term, software which exploits data will “turbocharge” the modernisation of the Army.
He said this will allow for huge gains in the UK’s ability to “sense threats, make decisions, and change the facts on the ground to our advantage”.
In comments first reported by The Times, Gen Sir Roland made a plea to industry partners as he insisted “we cannot do this alone”.
He said a “new partnership” would be needed with industries that would harbour a partnering mindset and for “healthy challenge”.
Gen Sir Roland added: “I am committed to driving UK prosperity through our Land Industrial Strategy. I know how powerful the British Army’s Kitemark is, and I recognise that I have a role in your plans, just as much as you have a central role in the Army’s plans.
“Together we can double the British Army’s fighting power in three years, defend this nation and help it prosper.”
(Source: Daily Telegraph)
26 Jun 24. Poland, Baltics call for EU defence line on border with Russia, Belarus. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia called on Wednesday for the European Union to build a defence line along the bloc’s border with Russia and Belarus to protect the EU from military threats and other harmful activities from Moscow.
In a letter to the chairman of the EU to be discussed at a summit in Brussels starting on Thursday, the leaders of the four countries that share borders with Russia and Belarus said the project, to protect the 27-nation bloc of 450 m people, would also need the financial support of all members.
“Building a defence infrastructure system along the EU external border with Russia and Belarus will address the dire and urgent need to secure the EU from military and hybrid threats,” said the letter of the four leaders, seen by Reuters.
Hybrid threats refer to a combination of military and nonmilitary as well as covert and overt means, including disinformation, cyberattacks, economic pressure and the pushing of migrants across borders.
“The scale and costs of this joint endeavour require a dedicated EU action to support it both politically and financially,” the letter said.
Some EU diplomats estimated the cost of building such a defensive line on the ground along the 700 km EU border with Russia and Belarus at around 2.5bn euros ($2.67bn).
European investment in defence and its financing will be one of the main topics of discussion among EU leaders at the summit, as Russia’s war against Ukraine has entered its third year and Moscow is stepping up hybrid operations against the West.
The call for a jointly funded ground defence line on the eastern border of the European Union comes on top of an earlier initiative by Greece and Poland to create an EU air defence system, modelled on the Israeli Iron Dome, that would coordinate the now separate air defence systems of EU countries.
“Extraordinary measures need to be employed as the EU’s external border must be protected and defended with military and civilian means,” the letter of the four countries said. (Source: Reuters)
26 Jun 24. NATO strengthens Mediterranean security amidst Russian tensions. NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian (OSG) has intensified its vigilance in the Central Mediterranean with focused maritime patrols conducted by the flagship HRV Dubrovnik and ALS Butrinti.
This mission marks the third maritime-focused patrol of 2024, aimed at developing and maintaining Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) in this critical region amidst rising tensions with Russia, according to a press release from NATO’s Public Affairs Office at MARCOM.
Over a three-week deployment, HRV Dubrovnik and ALS Butrinti engaged with merchant and fishing vessels, along with other transiting ships, to reassure local mariners and inform them about NATO’s support for the maritime community.
The organisation states that the operation investigated a total of 1,424 vessels, gathering valuable insights into the local pattern of life.
The patrols were supported by Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Airborne Early Warning Aircraft from Greece, Italy, and Türkiye. Additionally, NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF) played a crucial role by deploying high-end unmanned aerial drones to aid the operation.
The organisation highlights that the collaboration between the Croatian vessel Dubrovnik and the Albanian vessel Butrinti was seamless, demonstrating the importance of allied cooperation in achieving operational objectives. Both teams reportedly contributed significantly to NATO’s missions, enhancing maritime situational awareness and bolstering efforts against maritime terrorism.
During the deployment, the task group also conducted exercises with the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group Two (SNMCMG2), which, according to the press release, further enhanced interoperability and professional skills among the units.
Operation Sea Guardian is described by NATO as a non-Article 5 maritime security operation. It aims to work with Mediterranean stakeholders and NATO partners to maintain maritime situational awareness, deter and counter terrorism, and enhance capacity building. (Source: UKDJ)
26 Jun 24. UK faces hard defence choices, says Chatham House report. A recent report from Chatham House highlights that the next UK government will face significant challenges in security and foreign policy, particularly in the areas of procurement, security cooperation, and international development.
According to Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of the UK in the World Programme at Chatham House, despite the pressing security threats, the manifestos from major political parties offer limited and cautious goals.
The report discusses that the UK’s difficult security situation, shaped by the war in Europe, the potential return of Donald Trump to the US presidency, and the rise of authoritarian powers, requires urgent attention.
It states, “To confront Russia and play a leading role in NATO, the UK may need to consider moving closer to states like Poland who spend over 3 per cent on defence.”
The report also points out the fiscal constraints the UK faces, making it challenging to balance debt reduction with increased spending on defence and foreign affairs. O’Sullivan notes, “Unless the next government raises taxes or makes cuts somewhere, it will be hard to get the UK’s debt-to-GDP ratio falling while meeting existing plans for public spending – let alone find additional resources for defence and foreign affairs.”
On defence, the report mentions that all three major parties propose to maintain the UK’s nuclear weapons system, spend 2.5 percent of GDP on defence, meet NATO commitments, and continue supporting Ukraine. However, it argues that “2.5 percent of GDP is likely to only fill existing gaps for the current Defence Equipment Plan.”
The report suggests that a future government must make hard choices and reduce the range of military capabilities and programmes. It adds, “Recruitment and retention too, is not just about funding, but also making the armed forces an attractive career prospect.”
Finally, the report underscores the need for a new government to build on recent procurement reforms and to acknowledge the changing nature of defence, with a focus on unmanned weapons and off-the-shelf technologies.
It concludes that a coherent approach to defence spending, defining the UK’s role in European security, and rebuilding international development partnerships should be top priorities for any future government.
(Source: UKDJ)
24 Jun 24. Berlin, Paris tout initiative to buy longer-range missiles. France, Germany and Poland announced plans on Monday to join forces to buy longer-range precision weapons to fill a gap in European arsenals that they say has been exposed by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The defence ministers from the three countries said they would set up a mechanism to procure “deep precision strike weapons” such as cruise missiles, which other European powers could join.
Cruise missiles with a range of several hundred kilometres have seen a huge revival since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Moscow launching cross-border strikes and Kyiv seeking to hit back at targets inside Russian territory.
“Deep precision strike weapons are a serious capability gap in Europe,” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said after meeting his French and Polish counterparts in Paris – the first session of the so-called Weimar triangle grouping at that level since 2015.
“Until the (NATO) summit in Washington, we aim to bring together a group of like-minded European countries who agree to plug this gap in the medium to long term,” Pistorius added.
The first formal step would be the group signing of a letter of intent at that NATO summit in July, he said.
France’s Defence Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, said the letter aimed to assess what longer-range capabilities countries and companies had.
Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles fly low over the ground, making them harder to detect by radar.
Europe’s existing stocks of cruise missiles include relatively old and expensive systems such as Britain’s Storm Shadow, France’s Scalp and Germany’s Taurus.
There have been divisions over whether to supply them to Ukraine amid fears that strikes deep into Russian territory with European-sourced weapons could escalate the war into a regional conflict.
Berlin has rejected demands to send the Taurus to Ukraine while London and Paris have supplied Kyiv with their cruise missiles.
In January, France pledged to increase deliveries of the Scalp, which can travel 250 km, knowing that they could be used to hit targets inside Russia. (Source: Reuters)
26 Jun 24. Value of aerospace, defence, security and space sectors to UK economy increased 50% in last 10 years, new data finds.
- 2024 Facts and Figures report from ADS Group highlights that aerospace, defence security and space added £38.2bn to the UK economy last year
- Employment in the sector is up almost a third in the last 10 years, with two thirds of jobs based outside of London
- Exports increased 32% between 2013 and 2023 to total £38.7bn
- Productivity is 42% higher than the UK average, and has increased 16% since 2013 Concurrent launch of Aerospace and Defence sector outlooks showcases significant socioeconomic prosperity of the sectors
The latest figures published by ADS Group reveal that the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors added £38.2bn in value to the UK economy in 2023, a growth of 50% in the last 10 years. According to the trade association, figures highlight a 40% growth in turnover for businesses in these sectors, reaching a combined £88.4 bn in 2023.
With almost half of industry turnover generated through exports, ADS figures highlight 32% growth in exports to total £38.7bn in 2023 (v2013).
Providing jobs and prosperity throughout the UK
Employment across aerospace, defence, security and space is up a third (29%) on 2013 figures, reading 427,500 in 2023. 23,000 of these jobs are apprenticeships, with two thirds of jobs located outside of London and the South East.
Commenting on the latest data, Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group said: “ADS sectors are at the heart of UK advanced manufacturing and innovative digital services. Our true value extends beyond our economic footprint, underpinning UK society, families and our way of life. Our latest publication highlights a 50% increase in the value add they have contributed to the UK over the last ten years. Providing 427,500 jobs throughout the UK – an increase of one third on 2013 figures – our industries deliver on UK prosperity and innovation, providing a hub for advanced manufacturing, and driving our decarbonization agenda.”
Underpinning the UK economy
Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS Group said: “The latest figures reflect the continued buoyancy, resilience and economic resolve that our sectors continue to deliver to the UK. Despite a global pandemic stalling manufacturing productivity, an ongoing critical skills gap, and demand outstripping capacity, we are still seeing strong long-term growth indicators as we continue through 2024.
“With average productivity of £89,300 per worker, over 400,000 jobs created and exports worth almost £39bn, the immense value of these sectors for the UK economy is simply undeniable.”
Value add of aerospace sector grows 16% to reach £19.9bn in 2023
Ahead of Farnborough International Airshow, ADS has also published its 2024 Aerospace Sector Outlook, showcasing a value add of £10.9bn to the UK economy, an increase of 16% compared to 2013 figures. The figures highlight 104,000 direct jobs in the aerospace sector, with a median salary of £48.7k – 39% higher than UK average, with the vast majority (88 percent) located outside of London and the Southeast.
Stone commented: “Despite the lasting long and short-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, it continues to add huge value to the UK economy. Productivity per worker now totals at £104.8k with those employed paid an average of £48.7K – 39% higher than UK average.”
Responsive nature of sector to external threats drives increase in socioeconomic value of defence
The UK’s defence sector has continued to remain agile in light of an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment, as highlighted by the publication of the 2024 Defence Outlook from ADS.
The sector generates 164,000 jobs in the UK, with that number having grown 16% between 2013 and 2023. The average salary in the sector is £39.9k, 14% higher than the UK average.
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said: “The true value of our defence sector – providing safety, security and prosperity throughout the UK – cannot be quantified.”
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