UK Royal Marines carry out an amphibious landing under the cover of darkness. (UK MoD)
Editor’s Note: This report was updated 7/18/23 at 9:30am ET to clarify that an $8.6 billion investment on research and development had been previously announced.
BELFAST — The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans on spending £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) for weapons stockpiles to replenish arms supplied to Ukraine and wants a “surge” of reserve troops, amid Army cuts.
Both items are included in the long-awaited Defence Command Paper (DCP23), which also promises the formation of a multi-domain capable Global Response Force designed to “get there first,” according to a MoD statement and other materials provided by the MoD.
As the UK continues to be one of the largest military aid suppliers to Ukraine, replenishing stocks through additional spending appears to be another major move designed to deter Russian aggression. But the paper is also notable for what it reportedly omits: any decision to reverse a cut in British Army personnel, currently scheduled to drop from 82,000 to 72,500 by 2025, while a European land war continues to the east — a move that’s already drawn criticism from the government’s main opposition party. The paper calls for a UK strategic reserve “surge capacity” to be developed “in time” by adding ex-regular reserves to the force.
Under the new command paper plans, the MoD has vowed to become a “science and technology superpower” by enhancing robotics, human augmentation and directed energy weapons capabilities. It notes a £6.6 billion investment in research and development for cutting edge tech, but Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace told lawmakers Tuesday that referred to previously announced investments, though the UK would like to go above that figure.
DCP23 is an update to an earlier version published alongside the UK’s integrated defense review in 2021 and put together specifically so London could take stock of warfighting trends in Ukraine and then implement changes to modernization efforts across its armed forces.
Elsewhere on industry plans, the ministry said, “There is an intention to set a maximum five-year commitment for acquisition programmes, with a maximum three-year commitment for digital programmes.” A “new alliance with industry” is to be introduced, which offers manufacturers and suppliers an opportunity to engage “much earlier in strategic conversations” with the MoD.
Also, an “employment model and skills framework” that aims to increase “fluidity between the military, the civil service and industry,” has been approved and will, according to the MoD, offer a “more compelling and competitive incentivisation package.”
A new £400 million ($523 million) funding package has also been signed off to support accommodation for UK armed forces families.
