Delivering Security in a Changing World

The 2003 Defence White Paper, entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World sets out the future of the British military , and builds on the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the 2002 SDR New Chapter which responded to the challenges raised by the War on Terror.

Key points

Most of the reforms listed below were announced as part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilites review, published on July 21 2004.

• British Army
  • Manpower reduced by 1,000.
  • Restructuring will cut four battalions otherwise tasked to Northern Ireland, and the manpower redistributed elsewhere.
  • Army High Velocity Missile fire units to be halved, which would lead to the re-role of two Territorial Army regiments.
  • The re-role of a Challenger 2 regiment into an armoured reconnaissance regiment and several AS-90 batteries into a light gun regiment.
  • Withdrawal of seven Challenger 2 squadrons and six AS-90 self-propelled gun batteries (approx. 84 tanks and 48 AS90s).
  • Infantry battalions to be incorporated into new, large, multi-battalion regiments.
  • Will equip three artillery regiments with the Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System (LIMAWS) when it enters service.
  • Creation of three light armoured squadrons which will support development of the next generation of armoured vehicles, the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES).
• Royal Air Force
  • Manpower reduced by 7,000.
  • Early withdrawal of the 41-strong SEPECAT Jaguar force by 2007 and closure of Jaguar's operating base, RAF Coltishall.
  • Current Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft fleet to be reduced from 21 to 16
  • Reduction in the purchase of remanufactured Nimrod MRA.4s from 18 to 12 aircraft.
  • Reduction of Tornado F3 force by one squadron (16 aircraft) in preparation for replacement with Typhoon.
  • Reduction of 6 Puma helicopters of No. 230 Squadron RAF based in Northern Ireland.
  • Reduction in Rapier missile launchers from 48 to 24 and transfer to Army control and the disbandment of four RAF Regiment Squadrons which operated Rapier.
  • Additional procurement numbers of Hawk 128 training aircraft above an initial batch of 20 to be decided upon in 2005.
  • Typhoon purchase confirmed, with Tranche 2 contract to be signed when cost/capabilites have been negotiated.
  • Purchase of the 4 Boeing C-17s at the end of their lease period and one additional aircraft for a force of 5.
• Royal Navy
  • Manpower reduced by 1,500.
  • Reduced purchase of Type 45 destroyers from 12 to 8 vessels.
  • Reduced force of Type 23 frigates from 16 to 13 vessels by March 2006.
  • Reduced force of nuclear attack submarine fleet (SSNs) from 10 to 8 boats by December 2008.
  • Reduced force of mine countermeasure vessels from 19 to 16 by April 2005.
  • Northern Ireland patrol fleet of three reconfigured Hunt class minehunters to be paid off by April 2007.
  • Early retirement of the three oldest Type 42 destroyers.
  • Royal Navy Future Carrier (CVF) purchase confirmed.
  • A summary of warships to be paid off, as planned or early, as detailed in the review:
    • HMS Cardiff Type 42 destroyer.
    • HMS Newcastle Type 42 destroyer.
    • HMS Glasgow Type 42 destroyer.
    • HMS Norfolk Type 23 frigate.
    • HMS Marlborough Type 23 frigate.
    • HMS Grafton Type 23 frigate.
    • HMS Superb Swiftsure class nuclear attack submarine.
    • HMS Trafalgar Trafalgar class nuclear attack submarine.
    • HMS Brecon Hunt class minehunter.
    • HMS Dulverton Hunt class minehunter.
    • HMS Cottesmore Hunt class minehunter.
    • HMS Inverness Sandown class minehunter.
    • HMS Bridport Sandown class minehunter.
    • HMS Sandown Sandown class minehunter.

The review also mentioned "significant" classified enhancements of British special forces, including strength increases and investment in new equipment.

Financially, in a Treasury spending review announced the week before, the budget would rise by 3.7bn pounds, from £29.7bn in 2004/2005 to £33.4bn in 2007/2008. The review also mentions £3bn to be invested into procuring new helicopters over the next ten years.

See also

• Options for Change (1993)
• Strategic Defence Review (1998)
• European defence procurement

External links

• UK MoD: Delivering Security in a Changing World (PDF)
• UK MoD: Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities (PDF)
• House of Commons Hansard: Future Capabilites