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In today’s Times, a former head of the armed forces Field Marshal Lord Bramall, supported by two senior generals, argued in a letter that they wrote, that the British nuclear deterrent is no longer “truly independent” and the money being spent on replacing the ageing submarines which carry the Trident ballistic missiles should be used on much more needed conventional weapons that the Armed Forces are desperate for.

They also made the following comment which I for one agree with:

“Nuclear weapons have shown themselves to be completely useless as a deterrent to the threats and scale of violence we currently face or are likely to face, particularly international terrorism,”

Spread Far Too Thinly

In terms of our relationship, ‘special or not’, with our most important ally, the United States, the truth is that our significance to them lies in what we bring to the table. The reality would be that the Pentagon and therefore the Presidency, would be most impressed with any Ally that could provide and sustain +50,000 high quality combat troops on the ground for long periods, including ‘unit rotations’.

I will go further and say that the Pentagon wouldn’t care a shit, if they had to transport them in and out, feed them and supply ammunition, just as long as they weren’t US troops and neither were the casualties.

None of the things that both the US or NATO needs can be delivered by aping the US with large aircraft carriers and nuclear ballistic missiles. I did write previously along these lines in this blog:

http://baldysblog.co.uk/2008/12/21/being-realistic-about-defence/

However, the following amounts to a summary:

More Than This…

We need to abandon all pretentions in our thinking and therefore the weapons systems we buy into. Our current Trident Missile system has probably a 10 – 15 year lifespan left. We need to talk and work with the Americans on this but our aim should be not only do we not replace it but, vigorously pursue new reduction and eradication treaties, these weapons are unusable.

A massive expansion of Cruise Missile carrying submarines such as Astute probably makes sense for long range “projection” using conventional warheads. The two aircraft carriers are irrelevant and along with their aircraft, should be cancelled. In terms of delivering something specialised and useful to any future NATO operations, the UK should “specialize” in doing certain things well rather than too many things it cannot afford or support.

Define the Role – 200 Miles

The main problem is that probably nobody since the Napoleonic Wars has sat down and set out British Defence Policy. It is axiomatic to the principles of good design that whether a building a car or whatever, you design from the inside outwards, in other words, start with the function and use of the object.

Defence is self defence and the British Isles are a very small target that could not survive beyond a first wave nuclear strike from say Russia and a ‘dirty bomb’ planted in London by Islamic terrorists are unlikely to present a clear target for nuclear retaliation.

However, we have extensive coastlines to defend and the first priority must be constant surveillance using UAVs (Unmanned Ariel Vehicles such as the Predator) which could be armed. We need to start with a policy of total reach and ability to defend in depth an area extending 200 miles from our coastline and in any direction.

UAVs are not a total solution, little in military terms is but they can be a cornerstone to a sensible and affordable defence. We can no longer develop sophisticated aircraft independently in the UK the R & D costs are prohibitive but, we can develop UAVs and we do have the expertise in the Country to do it.

Part of our defence strategy must be to be able to manufacture UAVs and their weapons systems wholly within the UK so that if ever we had to “Stand Alone Again” we could. Beyond these first steps we need to look at a new breed of Assault Ships that can carry UAVs, Helicopters and Commando type troops and equipment, the Navy will need an expansion of surface vessels.

Conscription will deliver manpower not just for a minimum 100,000 standing BEF and logistical support of a military effort but also manpower to sustain “civilian activities”.

UAVs will supply flexibility, sustainability, intelligence and attack capabilities.

An expanded and refocused Royal Navy will be able to defend our Seas, maintain a sea bridge to North America and curtail aggressive operations against those.