As 2021 comes to an end, let’s look at how this year went for the UK Defence Journal.

I think it went very well for a number of reasons. Here are a few of them…

In March, one of our tweets went viral ending up on the national news and in the papers.

It was a bit of good fun.

In May, we caused a stir on Twitter when we shared an image of French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle sailing with HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, showing the former as being several times smaller than the latter two, with many taking it seriously.

In July, we broke the news that a user leaked classified documents relating to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank in service with the British Army in order to improve the performance of the vehicle in the videogame War Thunder.

We’ve been cited in Parliament, by think tanks and even in academia. Members of our team have appeared on TV, radio and other formats to discuss current events and we continued to attend industry events and receive invites from the armed forces to have a look at new kit or what it is that they do.

We’ve managed all of this with zero outside funding. We spend our own money on the website, on travel and on any other costs. We’re not a company and we’re not a business, we’re a loose association of writers putting work into the website as and when we have the time to do so. The UK Defence Journal has no affiliation to any party or political group, our members are drawn from across the political spectrum and we’re very proud of that.

Our proudest moment

The UK Defence Journal has been rated by NewsGuard against their high standards of credibility and transparency and received a 100/100 score! Well done to our team and to our readers for giving us the motivation to achieve this. NewsGuard is a journalism and technology tool that rates the credibility of news and information websites and tracks online misinformation.

The organisation describe us in the following way:

“An online publication covering defence industry news in the United Kingdom, including military operations, equipment, and humanitarian work. The site also publishes fact-checks on military topics. This website adheres to all nine of NewsGuard’s standards of credibility and transparency.”

With regards to our credibility, they say:

“UKDefenceJournal.org.uk’s content is generally fact-based and well-sourced, drawing on the site’s own reporting, including interviews with government and military officials and subject-matter experts. Many articles include links to primary sources, such as official Royal Navy twitter accounts and statements by NATO.

Headlines accurately reflect the content. Because UKDefenceJournal.org.uk distinguishes opinion content from news, NewsGuard has determined that the site meets the standard for handling the difference between news and opinion responsibly.”

What’s next?

As said previously, our habit of engaging with people on Twitter intending to ‘troll’ us has to stop and also been reflecting poorly on our image. This will stop.

Many have also pointed out we have a lack of writers, with most of the content being written by three or four people. While we do have a team of close to 10 people, the volunteer nature of submissions means they come in sporadically. To try and fix this, we’ll be putting out more calls for writers from a wide range of backgrounds.

We will remain entirely free, there will be no subscriptions. We do have adverts and those are used to fund the website running costs, they don’t pay our wages as we all have day jobs for that purpose.

Whatever the next year brings, I hope you’ll continue to enjoy what we publish and I sincerely hope that you’ll let me know if you have any suggestions.

Have a Happy New Year all,

George Allison

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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50 COMMENTS

    • Certainly got me at the time, thought it looked very small and was about to post that the CDG should have been named the Napoleon class due to it’s small stature lol…then realised the Hawkeyes were smaller than the F35s!

  3. As a newcomer to the site I found it full of info and enjoyed the banter (most of the time) I look forward to 2022 and if you need a radical point of view feel free to let me know. All the best for 2022 for all on the site

  4. I’m an American who enjoys this journal daily. I have no connection to the defense establishment in either nation, but appreciate the straightforward coverage and information you provide. Thank you.

  7. Hi George,

    thank you for all the work you do for defence and the NHS

    this site is a true voice of reason in the UK on defence matters and you should be very proud of your achievement in making it so.

    best wishes to everyone on the site for 2022

  8. An excellent website, always providing interesting articles and stories. Some excellent commentators as well, providing calm and measured answers.

  9. UKDJ and Navy Lookout are the best UK defence websites full stop and for the same reason. They never knowingly post inaccurate info and if unintentionally they do they apologise.

  10. Forgot the CDG picture. Now wondering if Macron saw the funny side ? It might explain the last few months. 😁

  12. Thank you George to you and the team for all your hard work. You have created an important and increasing;y authoritative resource that has tracted many knowledgable posters who also add greatly to the information available on the site.

    Best wishes to all and Happy New Year.

    CR

  14. Well I think you all do a fine job it is interesting to read and even being able to coment on so thank you all and the very best for 2022

  15. A really good 2021 clearly for UKDJ and everyone who enjoys posting on this site or, simply reading the posts!

    2022 looks set to be another year with plenty to discuss, so on that note have a happy and prosperous new year to everyone!

    • My first post to the UKDJ which I have followed for several years I follow defence geopolitics, UK industry and technology closely

      Well done George and the team for well informed articles of high quality with great photos.

      The comments made by many of the above and others have been informative and funny at times

      Everyone one have a good 2022

  17. The Carlsberg of Defence websites ……👍🏻 Whilst the others offer Kestrel and Skol of which are frequently consumed by the majority of the U.K. armed forces haters who soil this site with their never ending flow of negative shite.

    2022 will see further improvements and getting shit together for HM forces 👍🏻

    🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

    • Well said! Best wishes for the New Year to everyone on UKDJ and everyone in ol 🇬🇧 blighty and the British Armed Forces and the MOD procurement Dept. Get things done in 2022!! NYD greetings from Sydney 🇦🇺

  20. Congratulations to George and his superb team and to (very nearly all) of those who post comments. Even the trolls can be entertainining though. Great comments and banter. I left the army in 2009 – it is good to stay current through UKDJ.

  22. Thanks to all the UKDJ writers for last year’s excellent output, George in particular. Wishing all of you a great year ahead in all things.

  25. Huge thanks & appreciation for Gearge & the team providing us with key information on many topics, few of which get into the mainstream news. Thanks too to the serving & ex-military posters who bring such inight to the discussions.

  26. It’s a pleasure to be with you to share and talk about defense and our future, despite our special relationship.

    Another year where our politicians will fight.
    And another year where our soldiers will work shoulders to shoulders.

    France and UK, for the worst and the best.

    Happy new year, dear neighbors.

  29. UKDJ is great apart from the pop up adverts. Usually for things I have already bought (bathroom revamp, Blu-ray player, etc.). Now its showing me ads for ladies underwear. Contrary to popular opinion, I have never clicked on those ads. It probably wouldn’t be safe at my age. Oooh, now I’m getting cyber security & gold bullion ads.

  31. Hi folks hope all is well and hopefully a happy new year to all.

    Many thanks for the best read on defense matters, always a great read, and I value the experts that contribute to my request for more details when requested. Much appreciated!
    Take care,
    George

  33. a late thank you to Geoff and the Team for your excellent work in 2021. I enjoy getting onto the site every morning. Best wishes from New Zealand.

  35. Thanks George. Really enjoy the website and all the discussions especially when the people who actually know the answer post.

    Now, should those Batch Two Rivers have 6 inch Mk XXIII guns?

  36. Thankyou for all the really interesting articles and time you spend providing content.A good website that allows for proper discussion and debate without the echo chamber effect.

    One ask would be a few more opinion pieces around geopolitics in both the 20th and 21st centuries as getting people to understand geopolitical tensions and trends is the only way to get them to really get the importance of investing in defence.

    As one of my favourite authors, Heinlein ( who was a wee bit of a fascist to be honest) but it best: “Anyone who clings to the historically untrue and thoroughly immoral doctrine that violence never settles anything I would advise to conjure the ghosts of Napoleon….. and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee and the jury might well be the dodo…..violence, naked force has settled more issues in history than any other factor….The contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst.Breeds that forget this basic True have always paid for it with their lives and freedom.

    Now he had a bit of an extreme view, but there is a basic truth to this and your website helps a little bit to keep that truth alive and adds to the conversations on how we defend ourselves. Every discussion helps a wee bit.

    Thanks have a great new year and let’s keep our fingers crossed the nhs can keep rolling on.

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