What do you Brits think of this? Hoon suggests a reduction in British armed forces..

Date Posted: 28-Nov-2003

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – DECEMBER 03, 2003

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Hoon hints at reduction in UK platform strength
TIM RIPLEY JDW Correspondent
London

Reductions in the UK’s current and future frontline platform strength are anticipated when the government publishes its Defence White Paper, expected later this month (Jane’s Defence Weekly 29 October).

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon gave a broad indication of the thrust of the long-awaited document when he outlined future defence policy at a conference in London organised by City Forum on 27 November.

Hoon stressed that military effectiveness was no longer measured in terms of numbers of platforms – tanks, aircraft or ships. Hoon said the “critical element” in delivering military effects are “threefold: sensors – to gather information; an effective network – to fuse, communicate and exploit that information; and strike assets – to deliver the decisive action. Technology will be a key driver for changes and will present us with new opportunities – for example the effective means by which to link ‘sensor to shooter’ through network enabled capabilities”.

Hoon did not give specific details before the release of his White Paper to parliament but prepared his audience for dramatic re-adjustments in defence procurement. “The White Paper, in setting the policy context, will shape the structure of our armed forces many years ahead. Within the overall shape, we will need to develop the details of individual systems and units. However, before we can do that, we need to be certain that we have the procurement and development projects we need to get it right.”

He said that changes in UK defence policy are needed to respond to the continuing terrorist threat. “The greatest risk is that the strategic environment will change faster than we can respond.”

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has major plans to field a network-enabled capability but Whitehall and industry sources report that the Treasury has said that any force modernisation has to be paid for out of existing budgets.

Hoon’s comments come after extensive leaks to the press over recent months have suggested that the MoD is considering extensive cuts to frontline strength and acquisition programmes already under way to fund force modernisation. This could include reducing the planned second (89 aircraft) and third (78) tranches of Eurofighter Typhoons for the Royal Air Force (RAF), which would fall into the category of old- style ‘platforms’. Some of the money saved would be used to upgrade the early air-defence versions of the Typhoon into multirole aircraft with advanced air-to-ground capabilities.

The planned buy of 12 Type 45 destroyers could be reduced to as few as eight and the number of Astute-class nuclear attack submarines might also be cut, according to some sources.

The likely reduction in the size of the Royal Navy’s two planned aircraft carriers from 65,000 tons to around 55,000 tons may result in the purchase of 150 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters being cut as the ships would operate smaller air groups. Plans for new helicopters are being scrutinised and there are some indications that the Support Amphibious Battlefield Rotorcraft and Battlefield Light Utility helicopter programmes will be re-organised.

Existing in-service aircraft are also under threat, with reports that the RAF is considering withdrawing the whole Jaguar fleet from service earlier than planned.

The army’s Future Rapid Effects System, intended to equip a new medium force for rapid reaction missions, is expected to be formally launched in the White Paper.