Government announces Strategic Defence and Security Review

The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) has been published, outlining investment in the RAF, Navy and Army to deter threats, protect the UK and its allies, and improve the ability to respond to crises.

As announced by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on the morning of the Review announcement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will spend £178 billion on equipment over the next decade, an increase of £12 billion on previous plans. In a week where dramatic cuts are expected in the November Spending Review, the announcement has revealed that the defence budget will increase by 0.5 per cent above inflation for the rest of this Parliament allowing investment in people, equipment and the MOD estate.

As the face of terror changes, so defence has to keep pace to adapt to the new levels of threat. The Review has stated that the combat power of the RAF will be expanded with two additional Typhoon squadrons and 24 F-35 jets rather than eight previously planned. There will also be a new fleet of Protector intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance armed remotely piloted aircraft and a fleet of P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, with an overland surveillance capability.

The first of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, will enable initial aircraft carrier strike operating capability in 2020. The River Class Offshore Patrol vessels fleet will be replaced with a modern and more capable variant, the Navy will operate 19 destroyers and frigates, new Type 26 Global Combat Ships will enter service from the mid-2020s while maritime helicopters will continue to be upgraded.

The Army size will be retained and reconfigured to have two armoured infantry brigades and two new rapid-reaction strike brigades. A number of infantry battalions will also provide specialist training and assistance to allies, including for counter-terrorism.

Fallon also highlighted that there will also be greater investment in defence intelligence, cyber capabilities, Special Forces equipment and interoperability with allies to support better and faster decision-making.

Fallon said: “On equipment, we’re spending some £12 billion more than we originally planned. We’re spending £178 billion - that means more ships, more planes, more equipment for the Special Forces.

“The defence budget as a whole, for the first time in some years, is going to start increasing from April and every year of this Parliament. We’ll be spending more money on keeping our country safe.”

Prime Minister David Cameron also announced that up to 10,000 troops could be deployed on to British streets in the event of a Paris-style attack. Cameron, who held talks with French President Francois Hollande following the 13 November attacks in Paris, claimed that he would make the case to MPs for extending air strikes against IS targets from Iraq into Syria on 26 November.