UK Defence Chief Warns Armed Forces Not Fully Prepared for Potential War with Russia
Senior UK military leader tells Parliament that funding gaps and delayed modernisation leave Britain short of full-scale conflict readiness
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the United Kingdom’s Chief of the Defence Staff, has delivered a candid assessment of Britain’s military readiness, acknowledging that the armed forces are not yet prepared for the scale of conflict that might arise in the event of war with Russia.
In testimony before a parliamentary defence committee, Knighton said the UK benefits from formidable personnel and equipment, but stressed that budgetary shortfalls and delays in modernisation mean the military cannot currently sustain a full-scale campaign against a major peer adversary.
He highlighted years of reduced post-Cold War spending, often referred to as the “peace dividend,” as a factor that left the armed forces with capability gaps that cannot be addressed without increased investment.
The chief of the defence staff confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is managing significant in-year funding pressures, requiring difficult decisions on procurement and readiness priorities.
While the government has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, longer-term plans to reach 3.5 percent by 2035 remain unfunded, and implementing the Strategic Defence Review’s modernisation agenda will be challenging without additional resources.
Knighton emphasised that although the UK’s armed forces retain strong core capabilities and continue to deter aggression alongside NATO allies, strengthening Britain’s resilience and military capacity is essential to confront evolving threats.
His remarks followed related defence developments, including specialised rapid-deployment training for British troops in support of Ukraine and heightened intelligence activity indicating increased hostile operations against UK interests.
The assessment has triggered debate among lawmakers and defence analysts on the urgency of reforming budget priorities and accelerating force modernisation to ensure the UK can defend itself and its allies against future aggression.
In testimony before a parliamentary defence committee, Knighton said the UK benefits from formidable personnel and equipment, but stressed that budgetary shortfalls and delays in modernisation mean the military cannot currently sustain a full-scale campaign against a major peer adversary.
He highlighted years of reduced post-Cold War spending, often referred to as the “peace dividend,” as a factor that left the armed forces with capability gaps that cannot be addressed without increased investment.
The chief of the defence staff confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is managing significant in-year funding pressures, requiring difficult decisions on procurement and readiness priorities.
While the government has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, longer-term plans to reach 3.5 percent by 2035 remain unfunded, and implementing the Strategic Defence Review’s modernisation agenda will be challenging without additional resources.
Knighton emphasised that although the UK’s armed forces retain strong core capabilities and continue to deter aggression alongside NATO allies, strengthening Britain’s resilience and military capacity is essential to confront evolving threats.
His remarks followed related defence developments, including specialised rapid-deployment training for British troops in support of Ukraine and heightened intelligence activity indicating increased hostile operations against UK interests.
The assessment has triggered debate among lawmakers and defence analysts on the urgency of reforming budget priorities and accelerating force modernisation to ensure the UK can defend itself and its allies against future aggression.
