James Cartlidge, Minister for Defence Procurement, delivered a keynote address at the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2023.
Paying homage to naval legend Sir Henry Leach, Cartlidge outlined a strategic vision to strengthen the Royal Navy’s global presence and relevance amidst rising geopolitical tensions.
In his address, Cartlidge noted, “It’s a great pleasure to be here and even to those like me with no naval background, Sir Henry Leach needs no introduction.” He paid tribute to the pivotal role played by Sir Henry, particularly during the Falklands conflict. Recalling Sir Henry’s formative years and his illustrious career, the Minister emphasised that the challenges of the past remain relevant in today’s geopolitical landscape.
Confronting Resurgent Global Threats
Cartlidge drew parallels between the global threats of the Second World War and the current international climate. He pointed out, “President Putin is blockading trade in the Black Sea, threatening the undersea cables which support everyday life and increasing activity in the South Atlantic.” The Minister also highlighted China’s expanding naval forces and their intimidating influence in the South Pacific, suggesting that maritime challenges are coupled with diverse dangers from terrorism and global criminal networks.
The Imperative of Maritime Power
“Because the world is more dependent than ever on the oceans,” Cartlidge stated. He underscored the significance of maritime power, noting that 90% of UK trade is sea-borne and that global financial markets rely on underwater cabling. Climate change, he suggested, is escalating the stakes, creating new sea lanes and accessible natural resources.
Royal Navy’s Global Reach
The Minister praised the Royal Navy’s worldwide operations, from supporting NATO in Eastern Europe to conducting numerous weapons and drugs busts in the Gulf region. He also celebrated their humanitarian efforts, such as delivering medical support to Pitcairn and emergency support to Tonga following a devastating volcano eruption.
Charting the Future Course
Moving forward, Cartlidge identified three crucial lessons from the Battle of the Atlantic: strengthening the industrial base, encouraging innovation across the sector, and recognising the importance of partnerships. He underlined the imperative to reinvigorate the British maritime sector and to stay ahead of technological advancements, mentioning the role of AI and the NavyX team.
The Power of Partnerships
Cartlidge highlighted the importance of international partnerships, stating, “As we are seeing today in Ukraine, great partnerships are still a great capability in their own right.” He praised the cooperation within NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), and cited the Royal Navy’s ongoing efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.
AUKUS: A Benchmark for Future Collaborations
The Minister lauded the AUKUS pact as an embodiment of the three lessons he had outlined. He said, “AUKUS is not just creating thousands of skilled jobs here in the UK, strengthening our industrial base… But, crucially, it’s uniting three great allies as we work together to protect our common interests.”
As Cartlidge concluded his address, he emphasised the importance of enhancing Sir Henry Leach’s legacy through industry, innovation, and international partnerships. He warned, echoing Sir Henry’s own words, “We shall be living in a different country whose word counts for little” if these measures are not taken seriously.
You can read the transcript here.
The navy in way better shapes than the other services, shows what long term planning and maintaining the industrial base can do, the generals should be taking lessons.
It’s also easier to go to the treasury and politicians for more money when you are not pissing many billions up the wall with nothing to show for it except a pile of razor blades. Especially if your attendant industries are producing billions in exports.
Absolute bollocks! The RN is weaker now than at any time since the cold war, we are still paying off ships even this year. We have no industrial base left after the disastrous tenure of Thatcher and Major at the end of the last century, which destroyed our heavy electrical industry, steel making, mining, railway locomotives, cars, lorries etc etc
There are no exports industries left here (except maybe financial and pharmaceuticals) that produce billions in exports, we used to export food but since Brexit even that has stopped.
UK manufacturing only make £183 billion of output and consists of 51% of exports (Source “Make UK”)
Exactly. UK GDP for 2022 was about £2.25 trillion. £183 billion of manufacturing output is about 8% of GDP. No wonder we have to import so much. The National Debt is also about £2.25 trillion and with interest rates at 4.5% that is costing the Treasury more than we spend on defence (£80billion) to service each year
Do you think Labour will do anything better? If past performance is anything to go by It suggests not. Has Labour more experience in industry or commerce? Have any of them worked in the Private sector or Finance? I would suggest most of them have not had any experience at anything apart from student politics.
Last time they were in Government, when they were a better party altogether, they had a part time defence minister. Remember that? How many Labour MPs have any military experience? Hmm, good luck with wishful thinking.
After 13 years of Conservative cuts to defence spending and a doubling of the national debt to £2.3 TRILLION it seems that the nation wants change. Ever since Partygate the Tories have been on the back foot. Who ordered the carriers? Labour did. Like it or not, it looks like we are going to have to give them a chance
With a minority government. Like that’s going to be any good for the country.
Well said 👍
Manufacturing output grew by over 9%under Thatcher even though it fell as a % of overall GDP. The biggest decline, from 20% of GDP to less than 10% happened under new labour with the biggest loss of manufacturing jobs. Thatcher had a real problem to tackle- appalling industrial relations caused by over powerful politically inspired trade unions, poor productivity and declining quality of product. Allowing the free market to solve this- sink or swim- worked to a degree. But it ignored the fact that competitors were playing a different game with long term gov support to a swathe of industries.… Read more »
“Manufacturing output grew by over 9% under Thatcher”
Absolute rubbish! Four years after Thatcher came to power inflation was at 27% and there were 3 million unemployed for the first time since the 1930’s. Thatchers policies destroyed shipbuilding, steel manufacturing, coal mining and much more. Her successor Major and his ERM fiasco finished manufacturing off. Stick to facts old chap and dont believe Tory revisionist histories. Remember Cameron and Fox’s 2010 SDSR which absolutely eviscerated the British Army?
Let’s not forget Blair and Browns “peace dividend” that did serious damage to defence. That all proved a total lie, so does defence get the money back? Let’s wait and see. Lol.
I think the “peace dividend” was “options to save money” ( or change) in 1993
At the time the peace dividend was a real thing. The U.K. took part in Moscow’s victory day celebrations and Russia was an observer of nato. The Warsaw Pact was no more, the main enemy was becoming friendly and open for business etc. Everyone in nato took the peace dividend to be a thing and had putin not gained power and done his thing we could of stayed on that trajectory. Now from mid 2000s onwards the peace dividend was showing signs of strain with each passing year. What matters for defence is what’s happening now and how to cope… Read more »
Someone’s living in the past!
Labour might have launched the carrier programme, but they made huge cuts between 1997 and 2010. Tornado F3 fleet. Gone. Jaguar GR3 fleet. Gone. Sea Harrier FA2 fleet. Gone. Tornado GR4 numbers greatly reduced. Harrier GR7 reduced to just two frontline sqns. Plans to purchase 232 Typhoons. Gone. Tony Blair liked going to war. But he didn’t like paying for it. And left a very large multi billion black hole in defence for the Conservatives to sort out.
Robert, I’m not going to disagree with anything that you have said because its all true. Lets hope that if (when?) we have another Labour government they will be more supportive of our armed forces. I’m surprised that you didnt mention the TSR2
Those aircraft needed retired. The replacements were the important bits.
Can Blair be blamed for the eurofighter reduction from 232? The RAF only wanted 144 and ended up with 160. Tranche 3 order being split and B orders not being made was taken after Blair I think.
Governments have all reduced defence assets since 1990.
Nice to see someone else doing my usual pointing to reality between 97 and 2010. You could have listed far, far more!
the truth of the matter DM:
the number of RAF front line jet sqns
1990=31
1997= 24
2004= 20
2006= 16
today= circa 7 operational?(excluding OCU)
Morning mate. Indeed. I always quote 23 in 97 and down to 12 by 2010, so we are one out in 97 in variance? For 97, I always quote, 3 Harrier. ( 2 Cott / 1 Witt ) 3 Jaguar. ( Colt ) 6 Tornado F3 ( I recall the 7th, one of the Leeming 3, went prior ) ( 2 Con / 2 Lee / 2 Leuch ) 8 Tornado GR4 ( 4 Marham / 4 Lossi ) Plus the 3 Sea Harrier FA2 of the FAA. What was the 24th?? There have been so many it is so… Read more »
Hi DM Thanks for the usefull summary. I checked my numbers and see I managed to add a Tornado OCU unit (squadron). So one to many on my part, apologies. I remember the fiddle you pointed out on the GR4 units. As you point out, there is plenty else we can list. Personally, for me a real gripe is the cut from circa 46 frigates/destroyers in 1990 to circa 19 today. Not to mention 17 SSNS and 9 (ish) operational Oberon boats back in 1990. Really liking your idea of a “please explain” from the Tories and shadow Labour defence… Read more »
Well written Robert. The number of RAF front line sqns
1990=31
1997= 24 (Labour cuts)
2004= 20(Labour cuts)
2006= 16 (Labour cuts)
today = enough said
Hi Robert – re my post, this should read RAF front line jet squadrons (apologies)
I seem to remember then RN being little more than an anti submarine force between the late 70’s and now. When was the last time the RN could deploy a full carrier strike group to the pacific armed with the most capable aircraft in the world.
And also being able to point out that the said billions will be supporting the Uk tax base and not spaffed up the wall into another nations tax base.
Thats exaclty what will be done with it. Having destroyed our industrial base we now have no choice but to spend taxpayers money in other countries. Particularly the hugely expensive F35B
That’s cheaper than a Typhoon.
Only because we scrapped about half the Typhoon buy. I did a study last year and posted it here of the largest defence project ever undertaken by the UK – which was £17billion for 175 Typhoons. Using only open source information I estabished that on any one day in 2022 only 60-65 airframes were airworthy and we only had about 55 pilots certificated to fly them. About 25 of the Typhoons had been modified for the ground attack role and none of them had the latest AESA radar fitted. I was unable to establish whether any of our Typhoons could… Read more »
The Typhoon has all those capabilities you mentioned. The ECRS MK2 AESA radar won’t be operational until th3 end of the decade, but it will be an incredible radar with electronic attack capability. Typhoon has its own onboard integrated defensive aids system complete with passive and active jamming. 2 x towed radar decoys housed in the starboard wingtip pod. Chaff/flares, radar and missile warning receivers, and laser warning. All an integral part of the airframe, so it doesn’t need to carry any additional pods. The system feeds into the overall situational awareness picture the jet generates. Intermss of overall capability.… Read more »
HI Robert – thanks for the technical update. As an aside I understand that the RAF has made a good effort to get more Typhoons airworthy and there are now 100+ available. We also have 22 two seater Typhoon trainers and after an intensive program more pilots are coming through. I think that having an officer with an engineering background as the new head of the RAF (Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton) was a very good decision.
It’s interesting he raised climate change…very few people seem to really dig into how this will change the geopolitical picture, sculpt the future sea lanes and conflict. in our own waters and close to home the opening of a year round north east passage. It’s starting to see significant even with icing in winter…once you loss the ice it will become even more used..this passage goes right through the Russia EEZ and seas they consider their own. We also are seeing that at some point the north west passage will open up ( it can be navigated now but only… Read more »
You have got this right. The problem is that we are doing next to nothing to cope with climate change… and it will not simply be “oo look more resources”. Drought won’t stopped, and high disease and death rates means millions on the move and the inevitable wars that follow as people try and get the most basic stuff – clean water. If govermments see the future as an economic oppportunity for “more of the same” the result will be catastrophic for billions. But I don’t see anyone doing anything like enough because it’s too hard to believe we have… Read more »
What you talking about? More people die from cold than from heat.
And your peer reviewed statistical analysis for that rather odd remark is vested in what academic research? People die of thirst, which was my point.Cold thrist or heat thrist, it’s all thrist.
The unfortunate reality is people simply will not comprehend the true risks involved in global warming, scientists realises years ago that the public and political reaction to most of the modelling was a blank look or don’t be silly…this has lead to climate scientists purposefully being ultra conservative just to be heard. My first degree was environmental science, before I went into health and became a manager of heath risk…this has allowed me to see the science in the 1990s before the oil industry paid the tobacco industry marketing experts to “cast doubt” as well as access and study a… Read more »
Thank you. Bang on the money. I’ve been following this as a geographer since the early 70s and you are absolutley right. It is, however, an inconveient truth for those who don’t want to hear it! A Victorian optimisim that we’ll engineer a solution without having to change the way humanity lives on the earth will end up killing millions of us. One of cabinet ministers said, last year I think, that we can solve the climate crisis and still maintian our standard of living. The facts don’t support that assertion. I really wonder what kind of future my grandchildren… Read more »
For a lot of people the struggles of daily life are more than enough to cope with. It’s up to the policy makers to put things in place that the public then follow. The U.K. and other countries seem to be going in the right direction. Will it be enough? Will the rest of the world play along? The big polluters are only polluting more as the years go by.
I think you’ve summed up where we are pretty well. As a natural optimist I would like to think we’ll manage some last minute rescue and all will be well. The realist in me says it’s probably too late already and we might as well party!
Pre planning application for Barrow BSS/2023/0329 occupying about 2/3rds of the car park slab to the north of Dova Way. A new Pre-Paint Outfitting facility to be named Ramsden Dock Facility. It is to be almost identical in design to the 2016 Central Yard Facility. The Production Hall will be 175m long, 66m wide and 45m tall with a roof pitch of 4 degrees. Alongside the Hall rising to a height of 22.5m will be The Support Building. The Support Building is a three storey structure housing the main entrance, workshops, stores, offices, machine shops and canteen with building plant… Read more »
Thanks for this.
Is this for the Barrow expansion/upgrade?
What does this actually mean? Faster sub building, more subs?
I know next to nothing about the plans
It would pretty much double their capacity to fabricate components on-site and I think it points to another submarine assembly hall also being in the pipeline.
Isn’t the UK building the first 1-2 Australian AUKUS subs in Barrow?
No, the UK will be building reactor sections for them all and probably a few modules of the first couple of boats as the Australian shipyard gets up to steam but the first Australian boat will be built in Australia. Its a red line electorally for them and they would be brutalised in the polls if they didnt.
Is it really that complicated? Just a small increase in actual fleet numbers would surely help with availability? An extra T26, a few more T31s, some with AAW ability, and a few more subs. More assets in more places. T32/T83s nowhere in sight yet. Though it probably is a bit more complicated that this… Lol 😁