Recommendation 9

HM Government Acknowledged

The UK Armed Forces, in concert with our Allies and partners, are configured to respond to all types of threats and warfare. The IR and Defence Command Paper set out the priorities for the Government and outlined a path for how to achieve the capabilities required to reach our objectives. The vision published in the IR and Command Paper informs the development of classified departmental strategies and plans, which provide a framework for the strategic outcomes and priorities which the Department must achieve, with an increased focus on delivery across Defence. Further, prioritisation is guided by our assessment of the nature and severity of the threats faced. To counter and address future threats and challenges, Defence will work with cross Government partners and with the appropriate authorities and capabilities to conduct activities within the integrated operating framework: protect, engage, constrain and warfighting. This will comprise conventional and hybrid capabilities, as well as nuclear deterrence, that can be employed seamlessly across the operational domains: land, air, maritime, space, and cyber & electromagnetic. Defence will continue to ensure our strategic approach remains threat-led and in line with the agile planning and delivery mechanisms developed following the IR. Our capabilities and readiness levels are therefore regularly reviewed accordingly. We recognise that as we find ourselves in a new era of strategic competition, we must ruthlessly prioritise to ensure we are investing in the strategic capabilities and alliances we need to stand firm against coercion from authoritarian powers like Russia and China. We must therefore prioritise modernisation to match the threat, deter aggressors and ensure our service personnel have the right equipment to succeed across domains and on the battlefield if called upon.