The Ministry of Defence has said it has identified no concurrency risks to key overseas commitments despite planning for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.
In response to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, Veterans Minister Al Carns said Defence conducts a continuous review of all current and planned commitments to ensure they are properly resourced by the single Services.
Obese-Jecty had asked what assessment had been made of the potential impact of a ceasefire in Ukraine on the UK’s ability to sustain Operation FIRECREST, Operation CABRIT and the Joint Expeditionary Force contribution to ARCTIC SENTRY.
Carns said that commitments relating to Ukraine have been appropriately resourced and deconflicted, with “no identified concurrency risks affecting the Department’s ability to sustain planned outputs for Operation FIRECREST, Operation CABRIT, or the Joint Expeditionary Force contribution to ARCTIC SENTRY.”
He added that as operational planning for the MOD’s contribution to a ceasefire progresses, any additional requirements will be assessed and resourced through established mechanisms.
In separate written answers, Obese-Jecty asked what United States Marine Corps aviation assets would operate from HMS Prince of Wales during Operation FIRECREST, and when the operation would commence and conclude.
Carns confirmed that Operation FIRECREST will be delivered by the UK’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, but declined to provide further detail. He said he was “unable to provide further detail of Operation FIRECREST in order to maintain the Operational Security of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.”
With the massive defence spending rise that has been announced…..not……
Even stating this rubbish is an example of how irrelevant this government has made itself. There is absolutely no way that all of this can be resourced with the pitiful levels of conventional defence expenditure.
But the Chancellor has said we just had a new frigate launched from Rosyth last week. Can’t use it? Why ever not? Might it not exist? Maybe rolling a ship out of a build hall counts as a launch in her mind. Maybe someone needs to tell her it’ll be four years before the Navy get a chance to use it. A process slowed by the lack of funding.
Have to say that when I see both Mel Stride and Sharon Graham rants rubbishing Rachel Reeves I think she is probably doing something right 😂
Interesting to note she did say, in almost a throwaway, line that tomorrow she is meeting with ‘leaders in the North Sea oil and gas industry’. Looks like emergency incentives on the way to produce more for the UK, in response to the Iran situation. Maybe the start of rolling back the Milliband net zero masochism? One can but hope.
Couldn’t make it all the way through Stride. There’s only so much I can take.
I’ll give Stride 10/10 for effort 😂
I hope you are not suggesting that the chancellor is misleading the house … heaven forbid.
In that case I’ll chalk it up to ignorance. It’s the fact that she doesn’t care enough to know, and nor did anyone else who proof read the speech, that tells you how divorced she is from the subject. If you are that blinkered, talk to people who understand why buying 23 helicopters to replace 23 or more is at best business as usual, not increased investment against a more uncertain world.
Scum.
End.
👍
lol. Can you be a bit more precise there Daniele – this could be aimed at anyone – especially us.
Hi Mark. Obviously not aimed here, my utter contempt, and dare I say hatred, of politicians of all hues and what they’ve done to my country, and it’s military, since I was old enough to see how the UK was changing ( mid 80s ) is well known.
Mid ’80’s..! You youngster you..! 🙂
I’ve been gritting my teeth since the mid to late 70’s..!
Now the government finds itself wondering how to defend Akrotiri and according to the BBC they are considering sending HMS Duncan to the Med. Probably stirred into action because the French are reportedly also considering sending air defence assets (probably a warship) to the eastern Med to defend RAF Akrotiri! (Grits teeth in frustration!)
The BBC’s article also laid out how many Darings were available..! The UK’s air defence assets (excluding fighters) consists of 3 destroyers and 5(?) batteries of Sky Sabre (+ one in the Falklands) plus, apparently, some anti-drone assets that have been deployed.* Not much is it. Pathetic really.
We now have two major wars affecting us to a great or lesser extent both capable of running out of control and we are totally unprepared. This government did not create the problem, previous government of all hues did, but it is dithering when it should be acting with purpose. Fools.
Cheers CR
*Did I get the number close..?
Hi mate.
Lol….I’m 53, 54 in a few days time, so yes mid 80’s. A child of the latter Cold War when RAF Germany alone was bigger than the RAF now.
From my data, 4 Batteries established to be equipped with Sky Sabre, each of 2 Fire Groups, with 2 or 3 launchers.
How many of those Batteries have launchers and how many is a state secret, I’d think much of the Regiment has sod all and Batteries rotate into the role. That at least is as one poster have described it here, who said he was in the Regiment.
We also have a Regiment of SHORAD with Starstreak, LMM, and another troop of such with the RM. Some of these assets are in Iraq.
The anti Drone assets you mention are from 2 CUAS Wing, so 34 Sqn RAF Regiment, and use ORCUS or Rapid Sentry.
Bugger all.
No idea how many assets the sole AR Regiment has, or even if they are deployable.
If you recall, the CGS made great fanfare ( Grandstanding after their political masters ) that MRAD is to “double” and SHORAD to “triple.” That all sounds great, until you realise, which they do not mention, what a low bar we are starting from.
Fighting ragheads in the ME did not need AD, indeed, it was a Labour government who dismantled the SEVEN GBAD Regiments the Army had at one time.
With the build up in the Middle East, even a blind man could see where problems may arise and how Akrotiri and the other bases in the SBA were undefended. HMG, as usual, has been caught with its pants down and is now scrambling to respond.
Yes….utter contempt mate.
‘…established mechanisms…’ that will be another
Committee being recruited then as we speak.
So no budget acceleration then. The DIP, if it ever gets published, will be a massive disappointment.
The plan is still 3% by 2034, basically someone else’s problem. Starmer and Reeves are unlikely to be those in power come the next election. Seems they are hoping the world will be different by then and that nothing really bad happens in the meantime. Bunch of clowns.
A lab Green coalition won’t reach 3.5%. Trade offs will see it killed.
If the polls continue as they are we are heading for never ending arguing coalition Govts.
God help us if the Greens get in. Their manifesto for the last General Election stated that they would disarm the UK Armed Forces and convert them into an unarmed disaster relief force..! Utter madness.
Given our island’s geographic location and a lack of defensive capability the Russians or Chinese would come kicking the door down in no time..!
The main parties need to get stuck into the Greens ASAP. Defence is becoming more of a concern, so work use it.
Cheers CR