The UK Amry Future plans

The UK Ministry of Defence has released its defence command paper confirming previously rumoured reports that troop numbers, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and main battle tanks would be cut. 

Here's a quick look at the public information on the Integrated review, mainly the AFV side.

• The review confirms a reduction in the size of the British Army from a Full-time Trade Trained strength of 76,000 down to 72,500 by 2025. The army will also be restructured around Brigade Combat Teams.

• The British Army will also develop a new ‘Ranger Regiment’ which will form part of an ‘Army Special Operations Brigade’. The Ranger Regiment will seed its personnel from current Specialised Infantry Battalions; 1 SCOTS, 2 PWRR, 2 LANCS and 4 RIFLES.

• The British government has confirmed a order of 148-150 CR2s to be converted to Challenger 3 spec at a approximate cost of £1.3bn, the remaining CR2 will be retired. Challenger 3 (CR3) RBSL claim it will be the most advanced and deadliest MBT in NATO's arsenal.

• The Warrior 2 or the Lockheed Martin Warrior CSP upgrade, sadly did not survive the review and will have its entire fleet eventually replaced by the RBSL Boxer fleet (time line not listed) to that end a large cash injection will be made to speed up the Boxer time line.

• Also to this end the Boxer project will have its capabilities greatly increased to include a suspected IFV version and a direct fire support version alongside the wide variety of module options.

• The Ajax programming is expected to be completed at long last after lengthy issues.

• The UK Army is also set to invest in new longer-range artillery capabilities with £250m over the next decade to be invested into the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). The Army will also spend £800m over 10 years on a new ‘Mobile Fires Platform’.

• The UK MOD will also make a short-term investment in sustaining the Exactor missile system, with a view towards a long-term upgrade in future.

• On an aviation front, the Royal Air Force is set to retire its Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons and its Hawk T1s by 2025. The C130 Hercules fleet will be retired by 2023, and its capability filled by the A400M.

• Over £2bn is set to be invested in the Tempest Future Combat Air System (FCAS) over the next four years. The E03D Sentry will be retired in 2021 as the Royal Air Force moves to a fleet of three E-7A Wedgetails.

• The only other equipment confirmation worth mentioning was that the MOD will increase its number of F35's to 48 and the Royal Navy will receive a number of the new Type 32 and Type 26 frigates as well as a large investment to modernize the UK's nuclear defence.

• Two Littoral Response Groups will be formed, with the first to de deployed to the Euro-Atlantic in 2021 and the second deployed to the Indo-Pacific in 2023.

• The Royal Navy will also commence the concept and assessment phase for a new ‘Type 83 Destroyer’ which will replace the Type 45 in the late 2030s.