British armed forces have been “hollowed out by spending cuts,” General Richard Barrons has said.
The UK could deplete its ammunition stocks in mere hours should it be drawn into large-scale fighting, a former British commander warned on Thursday. This and other issues make the UK military unfit to be regarded as a “top tier” NATO member, he said.
Retired General Richard Barrons, who formerly headed the UK’s Joint Forces Command, sounded the alarm in an op-ed published by The Sun in which he said the fighting force has been “hollowed out by spending cuts.”
Barrons claimed that the British armed forces “are smaller and less ready to fight than at any time in living memory.” He also warned that the UK Army is on course to slip below 76,000 troops. However, even these service members often do not receive adequate training, Barrons noted.
British tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces mostly date to the previous century, while “years of cuts to ammunition production mean that, for some types of key weapons, the army would run out in a busy afternoon,” the general said.
Barrons added that the Royal Navy and Air Force are “in better shape” and boast some “outstanding modern equipment,” but cautioned that without experienced personnel, ammunition, and spare parts they might turn out to be just a “glittering shop window” without much to show for it on the actual battlefield.
The former commander said the UK should focus on Europe, arguing that the “tilt to Asia can wait.” He urged London to invest in modern capabilities, including drones, missiles, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities. Britain should also double its reserves to 60,000 troops, he said.
Regarding Russia, Barrons estimated that to be able to handle a “surprise attack,” the British Army will need to spend “£3 billion ($3.67 billion) this year, and every year for the next ten years.”
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace admitted in the House of Commons on Monday that the military has been “hollowed out and underfunded.” His comments followed a Sky News report alleging that a top US general had told Wallace that British forces are “barely tier two” in terms of fighting capabilities.
Image credit: Mick Latter
All the UK military is good for now is dressing up for the deaths of their monarchs.
In reality they are like the platoon of grunts I won’t name who were digging trenches on exercise out the back of Waiouru last year in face masks while keeping 2 metres apart. I’m not sure if they had to wear orange safety vests but nothing surprises me nowadays
The Ukraine conflict has shown Russian abilities go well beyond the wests perception of them. And the 2-3 years it would need to transition to combat readiness is past by
Yip, a bunch of deluded and frightened old women!. Liz Truss being numero dos. With her reported texting on her Iphone ‘its done’ straight after the pipeline explosion that Russian intelligence got. Johnson being of course numero uno frightened old woman.
Astounding who they think they might be dealing with, a bunch of picnicers on the battlefield?
Cause they think they are still big and tough like in the good old days. But Brittan is turning into a failed state fast. Not only do they overestimate their own abilities but they also commit the number one sin in the “art of war”, underestimate their opponent, ie Russia. Once they did not, but now both the UK and the US do. I think they have become arrogant and look down on the Russians. But despite all that merican and british propaganda, Russia is slowly but surely grinding it’s way forward in Ukraine despite all their best efforts to stop it. And they cannot stop it.
ah, but you see they aaare “B”ritish. So Superiooor….
😂
They are, the ones that are a bunch of control freaks that is.
There’s others that are quite self deffacating.
Giving everything to Ukraine, now have nothing for defense lol, what’s wrong with this picture?