Overview

• General Sir Patrick Sanders told The Telegraph that Russia could gain the capacity for a limited strike on a NATO ally within months of ending its Ukraine campaign, making conflict by 2030 a realistic possibility.
• He criticised stalled government talks on underground bunkers as too costly and low priority, urging immediate construction of civilian shelters to protect the population.
• Sanders warned that funding for the UK’s air defences is much lower than required to counter missile and drone threats, calling for substantial investment in layered systems.
• He highlighted troop reductions that have left the British Army too small to sustain more than a few months of intensive conflict, noting that reserves are also inadequate.
• General Sir Roly Walker has echoed the warning by urging the Army to adopt unmanned combat platforms alongside crewed systems for increased firepower with reduced personnel risk.