Future operations will place greater emphasis on projecting military force rapidly and over long distances. In this new strategic environment our Armed Forces require a powerful and deployable cutting edge based on improved interoperability between the Services.
- Our current rapid deployment capability falls short of this in a number of key respects:
- it has insufficient combat power for more demanding operations;
- it has inadequate logistic and medical support for simultaneous or prolonged deployments;
- it needs better command and control arrangements.
- To meet this challenge, the Joint Rapid Deployment Force will be developed into a more substantial pool of capabilities, composed of all our readily available forces, to be known as the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces (JRRF).
- From this pool, tailored force packages of up to brigade level or equivalent for operations on land, sea and air can be assembled and deployed quickly to protect our interests, meet our commitments and discharge our responsibilities.
- The JRRF will have real punch and protection, and will be able to undertake operations of all kinds up to and including modern warfare against the most demanding opponents.
- Unlike the current Joint Rapid Deployment Force, the JRRF will be used to undertake all of our short-notice joint operations, including our NATO commitments. It can also provide the leading elements of deployments at larger than brigade or equivalent level.
- This means:
- all deployable high readiness forces will form part of the JRRF;
- considerable investment in strategic lift to deploy and support substantial military forces, at short notice. In the short term, we plan to acquire an additional four roll-on roll-off container ships and four large C-17 aircraft or their equivalent;
- enhanced logistic and medical support;
- improved command and control arrangements. We will increase the staff available to plan and execute the early stages of an operation;
- improved arrangements for joint training.
- We will achieve this by:
- some re-organisation in each Service, especially the Army (see the fact sheet on JRRF Land Assigned Forces);
- a rapid implementation process led by the Chief of Joint Operations and his staff at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, in conjunction with the single Service Commanders-in-Chief.
- The Permanent Joint Headquarters will play a central role in the operational command of our high readiness forces and will test the JRRF in the largest joint exercise for years (FTX 2001 in Oman in 2001). This will employ many of the JRRF capabilities, including maritime, land, amphibious and air elements, strategic lift and logistic support. A new two-star post, the Chief of Joint Force Operations and Training, will be established to assist the Chief of Joint Operations in his enhanced responsibilities.
- The Joint Rapid Reaction Forces will:
- offer a new approach, designed to improve the effectiveness and joint warfare capability of our Armed Forces. Our ability to react with the right forces at the right readiness, in joint force packages, will be greatly improved as a result;
- ensure that when we need to deploy to meet an urgent operational challenge, we do so quickly, well supported and trained to fight in a joint warfare environment alongside our Allies.
JOINT FORCE 2000
- Joint Force 2000 is a joint initiative between the RN and RAF which aims to build on the considerable success in operating both Navy Sea Harrier FA2s and RAF Harrier GR7s in joint carrier air groups.
- Aircraft carriers have a key role to play in joint force projection operations. This is explained in detail in the fact sheet on the Future Aircraft Carrier
- In order to provide a deployable and effective offensive air capability, we will need a modern and flexible air group equally at home operating from bases ashore or from the future carrier.
- Joint Force 2000 is a concept for a joint RN/RAF force to be established from around the middle of the next decade. The force is planned to operate a common aircraft type which will be a replacement for the Sea Harrier FA2 and Harrier GR7.
- We plan to achieve this by:
- building on the success of current joint Harrier operations and gradually merging RN and RAF Harrier culture and practices towards a properly joint force, capable of land attack and air defence operations;
- replacing both the Sea Harrier FA2 and the Harrier GR7 with a new aircraft, currently designated as the Future Carrier Borne Aircraft, starting around the end of the next decade. A range of aircraft options remain, but we shall continue to participate in the concept demonstration phase of the US Joint Strike Fighter programme, which is a strong contender to meet our requirement.
- A Joint Force 2000 study team is being formed to propose the changes necessary to move from the present day towards the future joint force. The study team will examine:
- closer integration and basing of the current Harrier fleets as a prerequisite for Joint Force 2000;
- the opportunities for greater exchange of personnel between the RN and RAF Harrier communities;
- possible convergence between the differing RN and RAF engineering trade structures;
- the size and structure of the Joint Force 2000 headquarters and organisation, and the timescale for putting it in place.
- Joint Force 2000 represents a radical initiative to form a truly joint, flexible and deployable force ideally suited to the demands of the new strategic environment. It will help ensure that we derive maximum operational and cost benefit from our Harrier replacement aircraft and our future aircraft carriers.
JOINT HELICOPTER COMMAND
- The SDR acknowledged that the battlefield helicopters owned by all three Services are essential assets in the new strategic environment. But we need to maximise their effectiveness across defence as a whole.
- To achieve this, it has been decided to create a new Joint Helicopter Command. It will bring together the Navy's commando helicopters, the Army's attack and light utility helicopters, and the RAF's support helicopters.
- This will be a joint, tri-Service organisation. People will remain part of their current parent Service, including for the purposes of career management.
- At this stage, only outline plans for the Joint Helicopter Command have been agreed. Under these proposals, it will:
- be commanded by a tri-Service rotational two star commander under the operational command and budgetary control of Headquarters Land Command;
- cover battlefield helicopters only. RN anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning helicopters, and RN and RAF search and rescue helicopters, are therefore not included;
- look for best practice across the three Services in order to gain greater efficiencies in training and operating battlefield helicopters.
- A Joint Helicopter Command Study Team has been established to consult widely and to examine, by the autumn, the following detailed issues:
- the best location for the Command Headquarters. Options are Yeovilton, Netheravon, Wilton and Benson;
- the structure and size of the Command, and detailed command and control arrangements;
- linkages between peacetime command and operations;
- the boundaries of budgetary authority;
- arrangements for engineering and logistic support;
- delegations and responsibilities for flight safety, air worthiness, accident investigation, duty of care, performance standards and tasking.
- This is one of the most important initiatives in the SDR. It reinforces the role of our joint battlefield helicopter fleets at the heart of Britain's defence capability.
GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENCE
- With the SDR's emphasis on deployability and flexibility, Rapier and the High Velocity Missile (Starstreak) ground based air defence systems are key elements of our overall air defence capability.
- The Army currently operates a mixture of Rapier Field Standard B and C systems, and the Starstreak high velocity missile; the RAF Regiment operates Rapier Field Standard C.
- A degree of commonality and coordination exists between Army and RAF Rapier units, but full interoperability between the two Services has been hindered by differences in equipment, procedures and training.
- To derive the maximum operational benefit from new equipment coming into service, and improve overall cost-effectiveness, a joint Army / RAF ground based air defence organisation will be formed. It will ultimately operate common Rapier equipment with common procedures, standards and support.
- We will achieve this by:
- continuing existing plans to introduce Rapier Field Standard C into service to replace all Field Standard B systems;
- establishing a joint training school for Rapier Field Standard C at RAF Honington by 1 April 1999 (Field Standard B and Starstreak training will remain with the Army at Larkhill);
- continuing with plans to bring into service a range of command, control and communications equipment that will allow greater coordination and the sharing of air defence tasks;
- establishing a joint headquarters for ground based air defence by 2002. Its exact size, structure and location will be subject to further detailed study.
- The Army will continue to operate the high velocity missile system.
- A joint ground based air defence headquarters and organisation will help ensure that, through full interoperability and the sharing of air defence tasks, we make the most efficient and effective use of our ground based air defence equipment.
LAND-BASED NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL DEFENCES
- Although the threat of direct use of nuclear weapons against Britain has diminished since the end of the Cold War, more nations are gaining a military nuclear capability. And the proliferation of biological and chemical weapons programmes presents a continuing threat to our deployed forces. The SDR has therefore placed great emphasis on providing the Armed Forces with modern and effective nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) defences.
- Recent operations, particularly in the Gulf, have confirmed the need for an improved joint land-based NBC defence capability as an integral part of our readily available forces.
- New NBC capabilities are being developed and current capabilities reconfigured within the Army and RAF to equip our forces better for the more varied roles anticipated in the SDR.
- To ensure that these capabilities are as effective as possible, we will develop a joint Army/RAF structure to operate them. We therefore plan to establish a joint Army / RAF NBC defence unit, which will provide an operational capability in NBC detection, reconnaissance and survey.
- This unit will deliver a NBC defence capability at high and very high states of readiness for deployment on operations. It will also maximise joint training opportunities, build on current single Service expertise and establish joint performance standards.
- The unit will comprise both Regular and Reserve components, which it will integrate to provide a high degree of operational capability across a broad range of readiness states.
STRATEGIC TRANSPORT
- The ability to rapidly deploy, sustain and recover our forces is of critical importance if we are to be able to respond quickly to future crises.
- A mix of sea and airlift capabilities are required. Airlift can move lighter forces quickly into theatre while sealift is required to move heavier forces and to sustain deployments.
- SDR studies have shown that our current maritime and air transport forces are inadequate.
- Chartering merchant ships or transport aircraft is an option, but their availability cannot be guaranteed within the very short time scales required. Neither can be relied upon to meet the requirements of our Joint Rapid Reaction Forces.
- We therefore require additional ships and aircraft to meet this capability shortfall.
- It has been decided that to meet our sealift requirement an additional four roll-on-roll-off container vessels will be acquired, possibly through a Public Private Partnership deal.
- For airlift, we will in the short-term acquire four large aircraft, such as C-17s or their equivalent. In the longer term, we also need to consider a suitable replacement for our remaining elderly transport aircraft, for which the proposed Future Large Aircraft is a contender.
- Bids will be invited to meet our short and long-term air transport requirements in a combined competition.
- To improve the organisation of our strategic lift capabilities, the responsibilities of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive, the Air Movements Executive and the Joint Transport and Movements Staff will be subsumed into a single Defence Transport and Movements organisation with responsibility for land, sea and air movements.
- This increase in our strategic lift capability will enable us to ensure that we have the right assets available to rapidly deploy the forces needed to meet the challenges of the future.
JOINT DEFENCE CENTRE
Joint Doctrine
- Doctrine gives guidance on how our Armed Forces should be deployed, employed and subsequently recovered from operations.
- An accessible and widely understood joint doctrine is essential for the three Services to be capable of operating together effectively.
- The Secretary of State has commissioned a study to examine ways of streamlining the current process of developing joint doctrine in order to improve further the effectiveness of our forces.
- The study will focus on a proposal to establish a new Joint Defence Centre which would:
- bring the development of joint and single Service doctrine under unified authority;
- ensure that joint doctrine evolves in tune with technology and lessons learned from operational experience;
- be the focus for Britain's contribution to Allied and multinational doctrine;
- develop our contribution to similar work undertaken by NATO, the UN and potential coalition partners, thereby enhancing the aims and objectives of multinationality.
Strategic Development
- The strategic development process defines the mix of forces that we will need in the future.
- The equipment that we design today and procure tomorrow could still be in service in 3040 years time. It is therefore essential that we develop Armed Forces which will be capable across a broad spectrum of operations.
- The SDR has identified the need for greater emphasis on strategic development, including a clear vision of the capabilities that we require into the next century. This involves strengthening the process through which policy (what we might do), doctrine (how we might do it), intelligence assessments, scientific and technological advice and financial constraints all interlink to provide:
- a long-term framework within which our shorter term equipment programme can be set,
- better interoperability between the Single Services.
- The establishment of a new Joint Defence Centre will present us with the opportunity to bring together these strands and to provide the Ministry of Defence with a new, joint source of strategic development advice.
The scope of a new Joint Defence Centre
- The study team is assessing options for the scope, size and shape of a new defence centre.
- This is a most important project which signifies our commitment to:
- increasing the effectiveness of our Armed Forces,
- developing a coherent equipment programme, and
- strengthening the ethos of joint Service cooperation and integration.
DEFENCE DIPLOMACY
- Defence Diplomacy is an increasingly important means by which the Armed Forces can act as a force for good in the world, and it is now one of the eight Defence Missions. Its aim is:
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'To provide forces to meet the varied activities undertaken by the MOD to dispel hostility, build and maintain trust and assist in the development of democratically accountable armed forces, thereby making a significant contribution to conflict prevention and resolution.'
- It is one of the tools at the MOD's disposal in the spectrum of conflict and crisis prevention, aimed at using our Armed Forces to help shape a more secure and stable world.
- Defence diplomacy does not include operational deployments and is therefore complementary to preventive, coercive and peace support operations as a means of conflict prevention, particularly in Europe.
- There are three Military Tasks (MT) under the Defence Diplomacy Mission:
- Arms control, non-proliferation, and confidence and security building measures (MT16);
- Outreach (advice and assistance to countries of central and Eastern Europe) (MT17);
- Other defence diplomacy activities (MT18).
- Defence diplomacy activities include:
- support to arms control negotiations;
- provision of an arms control implementation organisation (including training for inspections);
- arms control inspections - receiving incoming inspections and conducting outgoing inspections, as well as participation in confidence building measures;
- assistance in weapons destruction programmes;
- provision of Britain's contribution to NATO's Partnership for Peace programme;
- provision of advice and training, in Britain or overseas through short-term training teams and loan service personnel;
- conducting exercises with and visits to friendly countries;
- key aspects of the work of attaché, liaison and exchange posts.
- Defence diplomacy will be one of our main peacetime activities in support of Britain's foreign and security policy objectives. Both military and civilian personnel will be involved.
- It will be a key means of building and maintaining trust and security in a changing and unpredictable world.
THE FUTURE OF THE RESERVES
- Our Armed Forces rely heavily on the contribution made by the Reserves. In future, they will do so even more. The SDR has confirmed the important roles that Reserve Forces can play as a vital part of Britain's overall defence capability.
- Reserves (either as individuals or as formed units) must be capable of performing a wide range of tasks to assist our Regular Armed Forces, whether they deploy at short notice to meet a crisis or undertake pre-planned short tours to support a long running peace operation. This support will be provided:
- by volunteers wherever possible; but if necessary
- by compulsory mobilisation.
- We will encourage increased use of the new types and categories of reserve service (sponsored reserves, high readiness reserves, full time reserve service and additional duties commitments).
- There will be continuing dialogue with employers to enhance support for the Reserves.
- There will be some new or enhanced roles for reservists, particularly in the Defence Medical Services.
- The TA will see the greatest changes, with its establishment reducing to about 40,000. The findings of the Review are detailed particularly in the fact sheet 'Changes to the TA'. The fact sheets on 'Changes to Army Combat Service Support', the 'Royal Armoured Corps' and 'Defence Medical Services' are also relevant.
- The Royal Naval Reserve will increase in establishment from 3,500 to 3,850, to provide an expanded pool of personnel for use across the fleet.
- The Reserve Air Forces will increase in establishment from 2,650 to 2,920 with new posts in logistics and other supporting roles.
- The Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations (TAVRAs) will continue to support the reserves but some changes will occur (see separate fact sheet on TAVRAs)
- Changes to the Reserve Forces will be planned so as to minimise any disruption to the cadet forces.
- The key to the effectiveness of the Reserves is ensuring that they are ready to do the job required of them in the right timescale. Readiness profiles will be adjusted to reflect operational requirements. Units will have resources sufficient to ensure that they are properly manned and trained and with the right support and equipment.
- As a result our Reserve Forces will be more important, more relevant and will provide their volunteers with better opportunities to continue serving the country in ways that are both meaningful and necessary.
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