Outlining how the military will be transformed over the next decade, the recent Strategic Defence Review describes a new era in which the armed forces will move to warfighting readiness via an integrated force featuring long range missiles, drone swarms and more troops, among other changes.
To help recruitment, the focus will be on drastically shortening the period between applicants expressing interest and joining, and adopting more flexible medical and fitness standards. As well as an uplift in missile and drone numbers, a boost in armour, AI and software capabilities is outlined, while personnel will step up on European security by adopting a ‘Nato first’ approach.
And up to one billion pounds will be made available for the set up of a ‘digital targeting web’ by 2027, which will better connect weapon systems and allow for faster battlefield decisions.
Billions more is already being ploughed into cutting edge battlefield equipment such as counter-UAS laser systems, which the MoD is forging ahead with. The department recently invited industry to submit proposals for a vehicle-mounted laser weapon following successful trials of the Wolfhound-based device (Soldier, January).
