UK disbands armoured infantry brigade

The British Army's 1st Deep Recce Strike BCT will integrate fires similar to those provided by the MLRS pictured with ISTAR. (UK MoD/Crown copyright 2022)

British Army chiefs have disbanded one of the service's three armoured infantry brigades as they proceed to implement their Future Soldier reorganisation plan.

The disbandment of the Tidworth-based 1st Armoured Infantry (AI) Brigade took place in early July but was not announced by the British Army or UK Ministry of Defence at the time.

Two of the brigade's armoured cavalry units, the Household Cavalry and Royal Lancers, have been transferred to the newly formed 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team (BCT), which has been created out of the former 1st Artillery Brigade, a British Army spokesperson told Janes on 29 July. Three former 1st AI Brigade infantry battalions and small support subunits have also been reassigned to other brigades.

Brigadier Neil Budd, commander of 1st Deep Recce Strike BCT, told Janes on 29 July, “As set out in the Future Soldier vision for the modernisation of the British Army, 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team formed up on 1 July. This is an exciting development. It sees the integration, by design, of fires and intelligence, surveillance, targeting, acquisition, and reconnaissance to give the British Army a potent, modern, recce-strike capability.”