Delivering Security in A Changing World - Key Points

Key Points

The White Paper, scaling back to an extent from the previous Strategic Defence Review, outlined the following posture for the UK armed forces:

• The ability to support three simultaneous small (e.g. Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone) to medium scale (e.g. Operation Veritas in Afghanistan) operations, where at least one is an enduring peace-keeping mission (e.g. Kosovo). These forces must be capable of acting as lead nation in any coalition operations.
• The ability, at longer notice, to deploy forces in a large scale operation (e.g. Operation Telic in Iraq or Operation Herrick in Afghanistan) while running a concurrent small scale operation.

Most of the reforms listed below were announced as part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities review, published on 21 July 2004.

British Army

• Manpower reduced by 1,000.
• Restructuring will cut four infantry battalions otherwise tasked to Northern Ireland, and the manpower redistributed elsewhere.
• Army High Velocity Missile fire units to be halved, which would lead to the re-role of two TA Royal Artillery regiments.
• The re-role of a Challenger 2 regiment into an armoured reconnaissance regiment and several AS-90 batteries to a light gun regiment, into what would become 19 Light Brigade (see Future Army Structure).
• Withdrawal of seven Challenger 2 squadrons and six AS-90 self-propelled gun batteries (approx. 84 tanks and 48 AS90s).
• Infantry battalions to be incorporated into new, large, multi-battalion regiments.
• Creation of three light armoured squadrons that will support development of the next generation of armoured vehicles, the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES).

Royal Air Force

• Manpower reduced by 7,000.
• Early withdrawal of the 41-strong SEPECAT Jaguar force by 2007 and closure of Jaguar's operating base, RAF Coltishall, Norfolk.
• Current Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft fleet to be reduced from 21 to 16.
• Reduction in the purchase of re-manufactured Nimrod MRA.4s from 18 to 16 (eventually 9) aircraft.
• Reduction of Tornado F3 force by one squadron (16 aircraft) in preparation for replacement with Typhoon.
• Reduction of 6 Puma helicopters of No. 230 Squadron RAF based in Northern Ireland.
• Reduction in Rapier missile launchers from 48 to 24 and transfer to the Army Royal Artillery, and the disbandment of four RAF Regiment squadrons which operated Rapier.
• Additional procurement numbers of Hawk 128 training aircraft above an initial batch of 20 to be decided upon in 2005.
• Typhoon purchase confirmed, Tranche 2 contract delayed until December 2004 when cost/capability issues were resolved.
• Purchase of 4 Boeing C-17s operated by the RAF at the end of their lease period including one additional aircraft for a total fleet of 5.

Royal Navy

• Manpower reduced by 1,500.
• Reduced purchase of Type 45 destroyers from 12 to 8 (eventually 6) vessels.
• Reduced force of Type 23 frigates from 16 to 13 vessels by March 2006.
• Reduced force of nuclear attack submarine fleet (SSNs) from 12 to 8 boats by December 2008.
• Reduced force of mine countermeasure vessels from 19 to 16 by April 2005.
• Northern Ireland patrol fleet of three reconfigured Hunt class mine hunters to be decommissioned by April 2007.
• Early retirement of the three oldest Type 42 destroyers.
• Royal Navy Future Carrier (CVF) purchase confirmed.

• A summary of warships to be paid off, as planned or early, without replacement as detailed in the review:
  • HMS Cardiff Type 42 destroyer.
  • HMS Newcastle Type 42 destroyer.
  • HMS Glasgow Type 42 destroyer.
  • HMS Norfolk Type 23 frigate.
  • HMS Marlborough Type 23 frigate.
  • HMS Grafton Type 23 frigate.
  • HMS Superb Swiftsure class nuclear attack submarine.
  • HMS Trafalgar Trafalgar class nuclear attack submarine.
  • HMS Brecon Hunt class minehunter.
  • HMS Cottesmore Hunt class minehunter.
  • HMS Dulverton Hunt class minehunter.
  • HMS Bridport Sandown class minehunter.
  • HMS Inverness Sandown class minehunter.
  • HMS Sandown Sandown class minehunter.

The review also mentioned "significant" classified enhancements of British special forces, including strength increases and investment in new equipment.

Financially, in a Treasury spending review announced the week before, the budget would rise by £3.7bn from £29.7bn in 2004/2005 to £33.4bn in 2007/2008. The review also mentions £3bn to be invested into procuring new helicopters over the next ten years.