Defence cuts today

Announced today cuts in ships, helicopters and drones. So is it essental retirement of old out of date kit or just a cover story for a money saving exercise.



The weapons systems on the chopping block are:

• The Royal Navy's two amphibious assault ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. They will be taken out of service at the end of the year - around a decade early.
• A fleet of 17 Royal Air Force Puma helicopters, as well as 14 of the military's oldest Chinook helicopters
• A fleet of 47 Watchkeeper drones - each worth about £5m - barely six years since they entered into service
• HMS Northumberland, a Type 23 frigate, which is in need of costly repairs and has already operated well beyond an 18-year out-of-service date
• Two large Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler - which carry fuel and supplies to enable the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers to operate around the world.

UK to scrap warships, military helicopters and fleet of drones to save money despite threats abroad

Defence Secretary John Healey announced the move in parliament on Wednesday, saying it would save up to half a billion pounds over the next five years.

news.sky.com

 

[Deltaitem]

It's nothing compared to George Osborne's bonfire in 2010/11. Let's not forget either that Thatcher's government was all set to remove the UK's aircraft carrier capability prior to the Falklands war. In 2021, Johnson's government cut the Army by 10,000. If the country can't afford it, the country can't sustain it, regardless of the government. From what I've read though, it seems to be a mix of retiring old kit and saving money.
We might really, really need a bigger, stronger military, but we also need to be able to afford it, especially if the farmers don't want to play their part.
Of course, if the UK hadn't voted to leave the EU, such belt-tightening might not have been needed.
Sunlit uplands?

 

[Downsizer]

What was Pumas current OSD?

 

[Flumpdaddy]

What was Pumas current OSD?

I think it's been extended at least once already because of the delays in selecting a replacement. This is more a case of confirming it won't get extended again so out of service by April next year

 

[Flumpdaddy]

Whilst most of this initially looks bad I think it's probably quite sensible and well free up cash and people for better use.

The ships all seem to have been stuck in port for several years as they are old and knackered.

Watchkeeper was about a decade late, already obsolete when it did arrive and isn't particularly successful.

Puma has been a solid workhorse but should have been replaced years ago and hopefully now a decision on its replacement (or loss of capability) will actually be made.

The plan for the Chinooks seems to be new for old one for one swap, so the fleet size shouldn't change but availability should increase with the improved serviceability.

I do wonder why they have done it now, just how big are the changes/cuts that are going into the SDR that they need to scrap things before it's finished?

 

[Tin basher]

I do wonder why they have done it now, just how big are the changes/cuts that are going into the SDR that they need to scrap things before it's finished?

Good question if these are pre review actions what's in the pipeline?