MoD Equipment Plan 2019-2029

DefenceSynergia is pleased to publish the Ministry of Defence (MoD) 2019 to 2029 Equipment Plan.

However, a recent National Audit Office (NAO) report said this…”Today the National Audit Office (NAO) reports that the Ministry of Defence’s Equipment Plan (the Plan) is still unaffordable, with the MoD estimating that costs will be £2.9 billion higher than its budget over 2019-2029.The Plan sets out the MoD’s equipment and support budget over the next 10 years. It includes spending on equipment already in use and equipment in development. It accounts for 42% of the MoD’s total spending, meaning stability of the wider defence budget depends on effective management of the Plan. The Plan forecasts spending £183.6 billion on equipment and support costs over the next ten years, against a £180.7 billion budget. These costs could vary, and in a worst case scenario, should all the risks identified by the MoD materialise, this gap could grow to £13 billion.”

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No Strategy, No Public Discourse – Royal Navy Escorts 2021       

DefenceSynergia (DS) is most grateful to Christopher Samuel, a former Royal Navy officer and founder member of DS, for providing the following short commentary on the state of the United Kingdom’s (UK) maritime defences. The issues covered become more pertinent in view of Her Majesty’s Government decision to launch a new review of UK security and defence through a process now entitled the Integrated Defence, Security and Foreign Policy Review  (IDSFPR). Not only is DS concerned that the new review is being conducted in haste and in serious danger of ignoring the lessons of past defence and security reviews but the opaque procedure being employed will yet again prevent all but a few of the ‘inner circle’ the ability to analyse the inputs and/or contribute. Here is what Christopher says: (more…)

POLICING A UNITED KINGDOM EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE AND TERRITORIAL SEA, POST BREXIT

The author of the following DefenceSynergia (DS) opinion piece covering the United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) post Brexit is a founder member of DS. In an earlier life, David Graham was an officer in the Royal Navy who was involved in three Cod Wars and served in three RN Island Class OPVs. Subsequently, he has gained over twenty years of EEZ surveillance experience operating in West and Southern Africa, the South Atlantic, the Far East and the Middle East. (more…)

Leangkollen 2020: Europe’s China Challenge

DefenceSynergia (DS) is grateful to Prof Dr Julian Lindley-French for permission to publish his recent commentary entitled ‘Leangkollen 2020 Europe’s China Challenge’.

The Strategic aspects of the West’s relationship with China have been largely ignored outside the USA mainly for fear of financial disadvantage. As Dr Lindley-French says towards the end of his commentary: ‘Respect’ should be the mantra Europeans should adopt in dealing with China…Equally, Europeans must also ‘respect’ the nature of the Chinese state, the dark sides of its growing influence and power, and the threat it could pose, and develop the resilience needed to resist Chinese coercion, both implied and actual, overt and covert.’ (more…)

The Strategic Defence and Security Review Britain Needs

DefenceSynergia (DS) is indebted to Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, former Chief of the Air Staff, Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham, lately Deputy Chief of Defence Staff and former RUSI Vice-President, Major General Jonathan Shaw, previously Director Special Forces and, subsequently, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Antony Hichens, lately Chairman of DS Smith PLC and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) (where it was originally published) for permission to reproduce professional advice for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) in respect of the much trailed 2020 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). (more…)

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