3 articles
Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has sharply criticized the nation's military readiness amidst rising global tensions and economic uncertainty. He highlighted strategic deployment errors and systemic underfunding within the Ministry of Defence, arguing that current leadership prioritizes optics over essential capabilities.
Andrew Neil has branded the UK's military decline a 'national scandal,' highlighting severe hollowing out of armed forces due to decades of mismanagement and underinvestment. The current Middle East conflict has exposed critical shortages in naval deployments and operational readiness, despite substantial defence budgets.
Delays in a crucial £1 billion defence contract for medium helicopters are putting Leonardo's Westlands facility at risk, threatening over 3,000 jobs and the future of the UK's first autonomous helicopter, the Proteus. The company has been the sole bidder for 18 months, with a decision now expected in March.
