The Minister for the Armed Forces has called for a fundamental shift in how Britain fights and deters, telling the Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference that the UK must embrace autonomous air power or risk falling behind.
Speaking in London on 17 July, Luke Pollard laid out a vision for air force transformation driven by automation, digital targeting, and expanded defence spending. He said the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) had fired the “starting pistol” on UK military reform and warned that old ways of thinking were no longer enough.
“One of the key takeaways from me from the SDR is that we’re not just developing niche autonomous units at the periphery of our military,” he said. “Every single unit across every single service in the UK will be moving to a system of crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous systems.”
Pollard said this shift would touch every aspect of air power – procurement, doctrine, training, and operations, and demanded the same urgency from Allies. “That is a substantial change in how we will fight and how we will deter.”
He pointed to the new StormShroud programme as a model for this approach. The uncrewed electronic warfare drone, announced last week, is designed to disrupt enemy radars and shield manned aircraft. According to Pollard, the system shows how faster procurement, tighter integration, and industry alignment can deliver combat power more rapidly.
“StormShroud has already created hundreds of skilled jobs around the UK, with the promise of 1,000 more in the future,” he said. “It has gone from factory to front line in record time, signalling how we want to streamline procurement in the future.”
Alongside new capabilities, Pollard stressed the importance of people. He confirmed a renewed focus on military accommodation and continued pay reform, arguing that Britain’s ability to deter would only be as strong as the nation’s commitment to its service personnel.
“Our people are only as strong as the nation that stands behind them,” he said.
The Minister also reiterated the UK’s NATO-first strategy and signalled a growing nuclear role for the RAF, highlighting the recent decision to acquire F-35As for NATO’s Dual Capable Aircraft mission.
“Britain now has a absolutely clear NATO-first defence policy,” he said. “It is only right that Europe steps up to take on more of the heavy lifting for its own defence and protection.”
In closing, Pollard warned that adversaries were adapting fast. “The story of air power has always been one of constant innovation, imagination, and adaptation. That has not changed today. But we must evolve again.”
“By improving our lethality, by increasing it, we increase our deterrence. And with increased deterrence, we make more strategic dilemmas for those who seek to challenge the international order.”
He concluded by urging delegates to keep the momentum going: “Thank you for the pace of change that you are instigating, and keep going.”
Can I correct your statement?
“Britain must BUY SOMETHING” to stay ahead in war.
Haha
Correct – stop talking about it and start placing orders for demonstation products from every company who has a vogue chance of producing something and then order in bulk submitting requests for fine tuning requirements
vague
“It’s only words and words are all I have”.
Bee Gees.
An absolute “Tradegy” I’m thinking.
More stating the obvious or repeating old news.
I love how these ministers can take up so much airtime repeating so much waffle that does not commit to anything and costs zero today.
All for some soundbytes to sound strong on defence like his masters.
So Stormshroud. There was an article on that here. A Drone with limited range seemingly more suited to being used out on the ground closer to an enemy, launched from a ramp I recall. So very much AAC territory.
But which they have decided is an RAF Asset as it would be assisting F35 and Typhoon. Healey was even seen posing next to one.
Still “Shrouded” in secrecy it seems as so little is being released by the MoD, or anything at all of substance, beyond that 216 Sqn will operate it and will need reservists and the RAF Regiment to help.
How many? When? No idea.
How does this asset enable the likes of the strikes carried out on Iran? Or Typhoons on Op Shader hitting Yemen? The ranges are too vast.
So limited in its use, but highlighted all the same.
Meanwhile, Australia is developing the likes of Ghost Bat and has Triton. Proper force multipliers.
We had Mosquito and LANCA, which seem to have vanished, and Sea Vixen, but again no details.
I know which I would choose.
“Our people are only as strong as the nation that stands behind them,” he said.
Ah, is that the nation that bans little girls from wearing Union Flag dresses at Bilton School in Rugby? Right. Strong…
“The Minister also reiterated the UK’s NATO-first strategy”
Why? The UK has been NATO first for decades, way back to the Cold War. HMG keep repeating this, just as they keep repeating their “iron clad” commitment to Trident. The reason is obvious. Labour stigma being linked to Corbyn, and their wish to be rid of it.
“signalled a growing nuclear role for the RAF, highlighting the recent decision to acquire F-35As for NATO’s Dual Capable Aircraft mission.”
Already debunked elsewhere. Primarily for training, with a political spin nuclear role on top. With 12 aircraft, when will they be practising that role?
With another nations weapons to boot, and using NATO tankers as the RAF cannot refuel the majority of the types it operates! Including the A.
All the while hamstringing the QEC as they now will have less aircraft.
““By improving our lethality, by increasing it, we increase our deterrence. And with increased deterrence, we make more strategic dilemmas for those who seek to challenge the international order.”
Scoreboard: 2 LPD gone. 2 Waves gone. Puma gone. Watchkeeper going. No extra Ch3. No extra lethality announced in the army re Boxer, re CUAS, re anything. ( He sounds like the CGS with the three times more lethal, or was it ten? ) Escorts down to 13. Transport fleet cut by a quarter, E7 still only 3, the list is endless.
Pluses: 53 Jackal E ordered. 14 Archer SP Guns.
I WISH people like Pollard could be held to account for what they say.
Pollard is only doing what ministers have done throughout history, and that is talking up defence when the enthusiasm wanes. The SDR was a long time coming and indicates several ‘Would Likes’ and some positive commitments. Pollard is correct, we do need to up our game in future warfare, and these statements are to encourage a broader span of thinking. You are correct in stating the almost static growth of the Army and the refusal of the need for additional MBTs. As I rudely commented recently, the CH3 is a fart in a cullender in so much as its modest planned fleet, though the machine itself will be leading edge. Maybe we need to give the current government time to make real the defence improvements and the need to make its capabilities 360 degrees, which is an enormous undertaking considering the rapid developments in cyber and remote systems.
“Britain now has a absolutely clear NATO-first defence policy,” he said. “
What was it before if not this?
Autonomy – not to be confused with sovereign capability which I incorrectly inferred from the headline.
“Britain must have a shit load of firepower to stay ahead in war”. Corrected that for you…
Don’t worry. All will be made clear in the defence industrial plan.
Starmer appears to have agreed to the new NATO spending target. I can’t see how that is going to be funded given the abject failure to apply a modest reduction in the bloated and rising welfare budget. Emphasis on industrial benefits and jobs will ensure union support – hence the frequent references in every ministerial statement. But the continued delay in announcing new orders of much needed equipment – Typhoons, SPGs, IFVs, GBAD- is worrying.
On existing contracts or commitments, the RN should be back to 19 functioning escorts by @ 2033, the CH3, Ajax and Boxer programmes will have reached FOC, and F35 numbers will be just about sufficient to equip both carriers.
But there are no indications yet of any ambition to increase force sizes beyond their current levels. And they are simply too small with nothing in reserve.