| The UK is investing heavily in defence, they now spend US$54 billion a year and have recently increased it again by US$4.5 billion to fight terrorism. By 2010 the UK will have the second best navy in the world. At the moment it is by far the largest navy in the EU, and the second-most powerful in the world. Its 2 new aircraft carriers look stunning and the Type 45 will even make the US destroyers look almost obsolete!! As for the Future Surface Combatant (New Triamran Frigate) it looks as though the US will buy the technology too! During the Cold War it was the Royal Navy who lost out to Margaret Thatchers huge increases in defense expenditure. But by 2010 the UK will certainly possess a formidable world navy.
The RAF is going to be amazing too. At the moment France have the biggest air force but the quality of the aircraft are no where near as good as the collaborative efforts between 4 countries such as the Eurofighter. The RAF will also benefit hugely from the F-35 JSF.
The British army are probably the toughest trained and most battle hardened soldiers in the world. The US troops tend to rely an technology too much. If the Army sort out some minor cracks in the equipment (like the SA 80 rifle) then they will only strengthen their current superiority in Europe.
As for Special Forces, the SAS and SBS speak for themselves!!!
Which European nation can compete with the UK in terms of worldwide forced projection? NO ONE!
With 6 new amphibious assualt ships and 2 supercarriers on the way, we will stretch our capability way beyond any other European nations capability.
The F35 will give us a stealthy fighter bomber, the likes of which France has no plans for. A fleet of Typhoons, F35's and Tornado GR4's will be part the most formmidable air force in Europe. We also have the Apache attack helicopter waiting to come into service as soon as training is complete. We used UAV's in Iraq, giving us valuable UAV experience. Successful use of the Storm Shadow cruise missile in the Gulf.
An extra £3billion, roughly $4.5billion to go into out armed forces budget in the wake of the Iraq war.
More experince gained from the war, the outstanding Navy of Europe, which is getting better and better all the time. An airforce which is about to claim the undisputed number one position in Europe.
Our fleet air arm will operate hundreds of aircraft, including the F35.
New AEW T45 Destroyers, actually the size of Cruisers, and new frigates that can fire cruise missiles coming into service in the next ten years.
We are the only global military players outside the US. Not even the likes of Russia or China can compete with us in a distant conflict.
The United Kingdoms global military policy means it can throw its weight around anywhere, making it more competetive and relevant than any European nation, namely France and Germany.
When the world has only one superpower, namely the US, it is the UK that has an opinion that actually counts in its eyes, with our defence abilities, which we will actually commit if we feel the need. |