The Ministry of Defence has said the UK is reshaping its approach to warfare, procurement and supply chains in response to lessons from the war in Ukraine, with a greater focus on speed, resilience and new technologies.
In response to a written question from Conservative MP Richard Holden, Defence Minister Luke Pollard highlighted the need for a much faster cycle of learning and adaptation across the Armed Forces.
“The UK’s Armed Forces are learning much from the war in Ukraine, particularly the need for a much faster ‘learn and adapt’ cycle to accelerate developments in our capabilities, doctrine and tactics,” he said.
The changes sit within the wider Strategic Defence Review, which examined force structure, procurement priorities and future capability requirements in light of evolving threats.
A key area of focus is munitions and supply chain resilience, with the MOD confirming plans to invest in so-called “Always On” production for critical ammunition types, aimed at ensuring sustained availability during high-intensity conflict.
Pollard said Ukraine lessons are already shaping how the UK assesses its munitions mix, alongside efforts under the Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme to strengthen industrial resilience.
It’s quite interesting how the main stream media and many internet commentators constantly lament how shite the British armed forces are and how we can’t fight our way out of a wet paper bag completely missed the revolutionary systems fielded by Britain in the gulf based on rapid learning from Ukraine.
We have indications of new systems being fielded in Rapid Sentry and ORCUS. They have also been strong indication of a new battle net capability with T45, Typhoon, F35 and GBAD all being integrated into a common system which is also ground breaking and based on Ukraine experience.
I have heard in numerous occasions how RAF airbases are totally undefended against drone and missile attacks yet both Rapid Sentry and ORCUS have been deployed for quite some time.
Well said. That needed saying. Worth thinking about including M346 in that anti drone ‘battle net’?
The biggest concern for me is we seem to be developing plenty of defensive systems, it’s all well and good having them but at some point the irritating bad guy launching attacks needs taken out as well. Offensive systems seem to be progressing at a glacial pace.
The armed forces do an amazing job with what they have, the thing the government miss is the statement 5000 ton warship off the coast (even if doing nothing) makes. The UK is probably doing a better job of defending the Gulf states than the US but in a quiet way, no grandstanding, but there is an element of visibility to give confidence.
Encouraging news.
Surely this “Learn and adapt ” mantra and the need for procurement and supply lines is all stuff we learned in the run up to WW2? Why are we having to learn in all again??
We just will not and do have anywhere enough Rapid Sentry / land cepter and the like anymore, and zero land based ballistic missile defence even the T45 which only have limited Ballistic defence capabilities but they are mostly in refit and will be unarmed.
I 100% agree with comments i read on here about the slow pace of NSM, this should be fitted at speed, and why only 8 when many are fitting 16, this should be considered, although 8 would be a start, across the 6 T45s, remaining T23s and all the T31s and T26s from the start.
I was also wonder what is happening to the hull mounted sonars in the Types 23s, can they be used to fit them on T31s and T45s, as a second tier defence or are they being reused in the T26s? We also desperately need ship launched rocket assisted torpedoes, in war if we have a hostile sub contact, we can not wait around for helo to be launched.
Can not understand why the 30mm are not being upgraded to mark 2 mounts giving them the option of airburst ammo as well as HE at the ready with all the drones now, and it goes without saying why are these not fitted on the QE class, they fitted for by not with, seems a obvious defence it should have as we have hardly enough pickets and missiles from planes far too costly.
Can not believe we only have one of astutes able to be tasked, due to maintenance infrastructure issues, redictilouis as well.
T23s (built with 18 year hulls to save money) are falling apart T45 under armed and mostly in Refit / Astutes only 1 available — Are they trying to sell the Batch 1 Rivers! Honestly you could not make it up .
There is no way the T45s are going out of service by 2038 as was reported in parliament in last few days as well, as the T83 is not even on the drawing board as they still considering what technology to integrate and how!