The head of the UK’s Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, has defended the recent announcement of a £5 billion increase in military funding, despite concerns raised by Army chiefs.
The Admiral referred to the investment as “really good news”, but acknowledged that some capabilities may need to be “pared down” in the process.
Of the £5 billion, £3 billion will go towards the development of submarines, with £2 billion allocated for replacing equipment sent to Ukraine. However, the move has left Army leaders disappointed, as they had hoped to invest in tanks and long-range artillery to address concerns over Russian threats.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had previously called for an £11 billion budget increase, but Chancellor Jeremy Hunt denied the request.
Meanwhile, Admiral Radakin believes that the current investment will provide “significant clarity” and lead to the acceleration of other capabilities.
Despite this, senior Army officers remain unconvinced, stating that the £4.6 billion equipment pledge for Ukraine falls short of the £2 billion promised for equipment replacement.
According to one anonymous Army source, “The Treasury have basically said you can have under half of what you’ve given away. The settlement couldn’t have been much worse really.”
The Army is already facing a potential loss of thousands of troops by 2025, leaving some experts to suggest that the budget increase is insufficient.
Former head of the Army, Lord Dannatt, has called for a larger investment, stating that “With a land war in Europe our army is woefully under-funded.”
»Admiral Radakin stands by £5bn increase in military budget, as Army laments missed opportunities«
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