The 28 July Defence Committee report expresses concerns about cuts in British Army Challenger 2 tanks (background) and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (hull down in foreground). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

The House of Commons Defence Committee has expressed a sense of déjà vu about UK military ambitions not being entirely matched by resources. In a report published on 28 July, the committee called for the March 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the March 2022 Defence Command Paper (DCP) to be updated to take into account the lessons of Afghanistan and Ukraine, which it said the UK government “was manifestly not prepared for”, even calling the Ministry of Defence (MoD) “arrogant and unwilling to learn lessons”.

The Defence Committee report identified challenges facing the MoD following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap as equipment is retired before being replaced; a reduction in the British Army's heavy armour and mass at a time when tank battles are being fought in Ukraine; and a reliance on yet-to-be-tested and proven technology to make up for reductions in equipment and numbers.

The 28 July Defence Committee report expresses concerns about cuts in British Army Challenger 2 tanks (background) and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (hull down in foreground). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

The House of Commons Defence Committee has expressed a sense of déjà vu about UK military ambitions not being entirely matched by resources. In a report published on 28 July, the committee called for the March 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the March 2022 Defence Command Paper (DCP) to be updated to take into account the lessons of Afghanistan and Ukraine, which it said the UK government “was manifestly not prepared for”, even calling the Ministry of Defence (MoD) “arrogant and unwilling to learn lessons”.

The Defence Committee report identified challenges facing the MoD following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap as equipment is retired before being replaced; a reduction in the British Army's heavy armour and mass at a time when tank battles are being fought in Ukraine; and a reliance on yet-to-be-tested and proven technology to make up for reductions in equipment and numbers.

The 28 July Defence Committee report expresses concerns about cuts in British Army Challenger 2 tanks (background) and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (hull down in foreground). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

The House of Commons Defence Committee has expressed a sense of déjà vu about UK military ambitions not being entirely matched by resources. In a report published on 28 July, the committee called for the March 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the March 2022 Defence Command Paper (DCP) to be updated to take into account the lessons of Afghanistan and Ukraine, which it said the UK government “was manifestly not prepared for”, even calling the Ministry of Defence (MoD) “arrogant and unwilling to learn lessons”.

The Defence Committee report identified challenges facing the MoD following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap as equipment is retired before being replaced; a reduction in the British Army's heavy armour and mass at a time when tank battles are being fought in Ukraine; and a reliance on yet-to-be-tested and proven technology to make up for reductions in equipment and numbers.

The 28 July Defence Committee report expresses concerns about cuts in British Army Challenger 2 tanks (background) and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (hull down in foreground). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

The House of Commons Defence Committee has expressed a sense of déjà vu about UK military ambitions not being entirely matched by resources. In a report published on 28 July, the committee called for the March 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the March 2022 Defence Command Paper (DCP) to be updated to take into account the lessons of Afghanistan and Ukraine, which it said the UK government “was manifestly not prepared for”, even calling the Ministry of Defence (MoD) “arrogant and unwilling to learn lessons”.

The Defence Committee report identified challenges facing the MoD following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap as equipment is retired before being replaced; a reduction in the British Army's heavy armour and mass at a time when tank battles are being fought in Ukraine; and a reliance on yet-to-be-tested and proven technology to make up for reductions in equipment and numbers.

The 28 July Defence Committee report expresses concerns about cuts in British Army Challenger 2 tanks (background) and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (hull down in foreground). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

The House of Commons Defence Committee has expressed a sense of déjà vu about UK military ambitions not being entirely matched by resources. In a report published on 28 July, the committee called for the March 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the March 2022 Defence Command Paper (DCP) to be updated to take into account the lessons of Afghanistan and Ukraine, which it said the UK government “was manifestly not prepared for”, even calling the Ministry of Defence (MoD) “arrogant and unwilling to learn lessons”.

The Defence Committee report identified challenges facing the MoD following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap as equipment is retired before being replaced; a reduction in the British Army's heavy armour and mass at a time when tank battles are being fought in Ukraine; and a reliance on yet-to-be-tested and proven technology to make up for reductions in equipment and numbers.

The 28 July Defence Committee report expresses concerns about cuts in British Army Challenger 2 tanks (background) and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (hull down in foreground). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

The House of Commons Defence Committee has expressed a sense of déjà vu about UK military ambitions not being entirely matched by resources. In a report published on 28 July, the committee called for the March 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the March 2022 Defence Command Paper (DCP) to be updated to take into account the lessons of Afghanistan and Ukraine, which it said the UK government “was manifestly not prepared for”, even calling the Ministry of Defence (MoD) “arrogant and unwilling to learn lessons”.

The Defence Committee report identified challenges facing the MoD following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap as equipment is retired before being replaced; a reduction in the British Army's heavy armour and mass at a time when tank battles are being fought in Ukraine; and a reliance on yet-to-be-tested and proven technology to make up for reductions in equipment and numbers.