The UK Armed Forces will not be prepared for “a long, intense war”, unless the shortage of personnel and equipment can be resolved.
This is stated in the report of the House of Commons Defense Committee.
Conclusion of the Defense Committee on the readiness of the British Armed Forces
The UK has deployed forces beyond its capabilities in response to the deteriorating security situation.
Now watching
However, the House of Commons Defense Committee states that the capabilities and reserves of deployed forces are insufficient, and personnel are being reduced faster than they are being replenished with new recruits.
– “The armed forces are constantly overstretched, and this has negatively affected the maintenance and also delayed the development of combat readiness,” the defense committee report says.
The British Defense Committee states: despite the fact that the country spends about £50 billion on defense annually (including to help Ukraine), the UK Armed Forces need regular investment to “ ;have the opportunity, together with allies, to wage a long, intense war against an equal enemy”.
According to representatives of the Defense Committee, there is no simple answer to the questions raised.
– We recognize that the Government is committed to finding ways to improve recruitment and retention of personnel, and to reform the procurement system to build industrial capacity to replenish ammunition stockpiles.
We approve of these initiatives, but we are aware that previous reforms did not have the desired effect, but reforms must work, the Defense Committee believes.
The government has two months to respond to the recommendations made in the report.
