The UK’s military equipment is “just not good enough”, the Defence Secretary John Healey has admitted. In a frank assessment, Mr Healey told the Defence Select Committee that the rapidly changing nature of warfare and accelerating technological development mean the capabilities currently possessed by the Armed Forces are insufficient for the future.
Mr Healey said when the UK works with allies, it must ensure its contribution is “part of the leading edge” driving necessary transformations, rather than just a major part of collective deterrence. He defended the government’s decision to scrap six “outdated” military programmes across the Army, Navy and RAF, saying it would allow the forces to focus on the future.
The Defence Secretary conceded Ukraine faces a “serious moment” after firing British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory, but declined to comment on Kyiv’s use of the weapons. He cited UK intelligence in saying battle lines in Ukraine had become “less stable than at any time since the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion”.
Mr Healey reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, but refused to set a firm timeline, saying a “clear path” would be set out in the spring. He also revealed that 80% of the UK’s Armed Forces are currently medically fit to deploy, and the Ministry of Defence plans to axe 10% of its civil servants over the next five years.
Facing criticism from the Conservatives over the timing of the defence cuts, the Defence Secretary insisted the UK faces “serious threats” and the problems were “worse than we thought”. He vowed to “get a grip” on the MOD’s budget as the country navigates multiple global conflicts.
