Strategic Defence Review - 2025

[RubyRoo]

Rumoured to be published within the next few weeks, but supposedly with little detail on the specifics (unit numbers etc) until the Autumn.

https://archive.is/v3syQ#selection-1493.75-1493.201

[RubyRoo]

Paid for: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar ... -lg2wf0slx

Free: https://archive.ph/jY3z7

Key points:
1. "Homeland Defence" - More resources allocated to subsea pipeline/cable defence, missile defence, home guard equivalent.
2. More SSNs "up to 12 AUKUS"
3. Minor increase in army numbers (to 78k from 72k).
4. Overhaul of recruitment

As stated in previous post, Defence Command Paper in the Autumn with finer details on specific numbers.

[Bilvo]

By the time any a/c are manufactured and delivered Trump will be long gone.

Trump is determined to try and get a third term. That includes running as Vance's Vice President in 2028 and then having Vance step down as President. He also claims to have other options.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-says-no ... 59890.html

They also have to WIN the election - pay attention to the news, his popularity is PLUMMETING!

[Malcolm]

Trump is determined to try and get a third term. That includes running as Vance's Vice President in 2028 and then having Vance step down as President. He also claims to have other options.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-says-no ... 59890.html

They also have to WIN the election - pay attention to the news, his popularity is PLUMMETING!

The 12th amendment to the US constitution prevents anyone who is not eligible to be president from running to be vice president.

https://constitution.congress.gov/const ... ndment-12/

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

[T_J]

They also have to WIN the election - pay attention to the news, his popularity is PLUMMETING!

The 12th amendment to the US constitution prevents anyone who is not eligible to be president from running to be vice president.

https://constitution.congress.gov/const ... ndment-12/

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

Thanks for update. I agree. Trump has recently backtracked on a third term, but he flips and flops. This was back in late March.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-third- ... 7fe89b7578

NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump if one potential avenue to a third term was having Vice President JD Vance run for the top job and “then pass the baton to you.”

“Well, that’s one,” Trump responded. “But there are others too. There are others.”

[EAGLE]

Expected to be published on Monday coming up.

[Pesmog]

I see todays 'Times' is going heavily today on apparent UK negotiations to purchase a nuclear weapon capable aircraft.

[NorvilleRogers]

I see the Times is going heavily today on apparent UK negotiations to purchase a nuclear weapon capable aircraft.

Maybe follow Germany and go for the F-35A which is nuclear capable.

[Gordyflyer]

Can an F-35A actually do anything useful range wise? Would probably need to be based in Eastern Poland to bomb Moscow. Don't count on any tanker support.

[Malcy]

Just watching Defence Minister John Healey on the BEEB with Conservative Party darling Laura K… and I see that the emphasis on questioning is ‘what can you deliver right now’.

After on year of Red rule following on from 14 years of Blue rule -

what UK defence needs is

a - more investment in UK research, development leading to actual program production

b - much much better procurement with less tri service fudge and interference

c - boots on the ground - bring back the semi-professional Territorial Army to bolster the defence effort

d - equipment that is cheaper and works now

SDR release tomorrow will be interesting reading

[NorvilleRogers]

Can an F-35A actually do anything useful range wise? Would probably need to be based in Eastern Poland to bomb Moscow. Don't count on any tanker support.

Range issues depends on use, unlikely to “bomb Moscow” as we would all be already dead in that scenario (we also have Trident for long range). F-35A would be tactical battlefield weapon, but as always it’s hopefully there to deter as having to use it would not end well for either side.

[RubyRoo]

Great reading I think! This is all rumours but at this stage before release it's essentially fact. Don't expect any specifics tomorrow in regards to units and numbers. That all comes in the Defence Command Paper released this Autumn and with all things, the devil is in the detail.

F-35A acquisition is something I didn't think would happen and as someone else mentioned, it simply MUST come with the addition of the boom to the A330s otherwise what's the point.

1. Acquiring free-fall tactical nuclear bombs and F-35As for delivery.
2. An air defence system for the UK to protect against ballistic (and cruise?) missiles.
3. £6 billion investment in new munitions factories and deepening stocks.

(A separate defence industrial strategy to follow SDR)

Limited specifics on the naval domain but the Sunday Times also reports commitment to:

4. Raise RN surface escorts numbers to 25 (ie Type 31 batch II / Type 32 will happen).
5. A new Atlantic Bastion ASW and Seabed surveillance programme.
6. A focus on fixing the forces recruitment crisis.

[sschofield]

Can an F-35A actually do anything useful range wise? Would probably need to be based in Eastern Poland to bomb Moscow. Don't count on any tanker support.

Range issues depends on use, unlikely to “bomb Moscow” as we would all be already dead in that scenario (we also have Trident for long range). F-35A would be tactical battlefield weapon, but as always it’s hopefully there to deter as having to use it would not end well for either side.

Specifically on the F-35A, (US-owned) B61 bombs, which the jet got cleared to use not so long ago. Currently B61 Mark 12s and eventually the much more powerful Mark 13. Mark 12s are on the way to Lakenheath, if not already there (construction of the infrastructure there has been in progress there for quite a while).

[Cyberfox]

Surely stand off weapons are better than free fall so the jets don’t actually have to overfly heavily defended targets?

What the UK needs most in my opinion is thousands of armed drones and ground based anti drone and anti missile defences.

Possibly at least two or three more squadrons of ‘off the shelf’ interceptors (F-15Cs?) to take out any potential Russian bombers. Though if it’s got to that stage God help us all.

We also need more warships. But that will take about a decade!

However none of that is much use without a successful recruitment campaign and better Forces’ housing and pay. Will any of that be forthcoming?

[22A]

Specifically on the F-35A, (US-owned) B61 bombs, which the jet got cleared to use not so long ago. Currently B61 Mark 12s and eventually the much more powerful Mark 13. Mark 12s are on the way to Lakenheath, if not already there (construction of the infrastructure there has been in progress there for quite a while).

As always with the press, we will use jets and reading the article, we are only in "highly sensitive" talks.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/b ... 5ba5&ei=14

Defence Secretary John Healey and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the armed forces, are said to be looking to acquire American-made fighter jets capable of launching gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons.

[Vulcanone]

Surely stand off weapons are better than free fall so the jets don’t actually have to overfly heavily defended targets?

What the UK needs most in my opinion is thousands of armed drones and ground based anti drone and anti missile defences.

Possibly at least two or three more squadrons of ‘off the shelf’ interceptors (F-15Cs?) to take out any potential Russian bombers. Though if it’s got to that stage God help us all.

We also need more warships. But that will take about a decade!

However none of that is much use without a successful recruitment campaign and better Forces’ housing and pay. Will any of that be forthcoming?

You do realise there are NO off the shelf F-15Cs as they are almost (less than 150 now) nearly all retired. And why would we buy F-15s... That s just adding another type to the mix. The main reason we went down to a two type fast jet fleet from memory

[Bobby 1211]

So the future looks like F35b, F35a, Typhoons and potentially Tempest?
My main concern is that we are still going ahead with only 3 E-7s. Looking at how the RC-135 fleet is being stretched, I wish they bumped up the wedgetail order back to 5.

[RubyRoo]

“Up to” 12 SSN-AUKUS attack submarines to be ordered.

This will definitely get cut down.

[Finty]

.

Possibly at least two or three more squadrons of ‘off the shelf’ interceptors (F-15Cs?) to take out any potential Russian bombers. Though if it’s got to that stage God help us all.

Terrible idea I’m afraid, Cs are fatigued and at the end of their life. Why go to the effort of introducing a “new” type with all the costs of setting up supply chains etc when we already have an aircraft designed to splash bombers (Typhoon).

[Thunder]

If F-35A isn’t an option then F-15EX would be a good if not better choice for a nuclear capable multi role aircraft, but at £10m more expensive than the F-35. Not sure how operating costs compare but i’d imagine the F15EX, would be substantially more. Not sure that boom equipped A330’s are vitally necessary(it makes sense sure), but none of the other European F-35 operators(with the exception of Italy), operate boom equipped tankers.