Overview

• The Ministry of Defence announced on September 3 that Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has formally assumed the role of Chief of the Defence Staff.
• Admiral Sir Tony Radakin retired after a 40-year career, handing over on September 2 and marking his departure with a final voyage on HMS Blazer as Tower Bridge was raised in tribute.
• Under recently implemented reforms, the Chief of the Defence Staff now holds direct command of the service chiefs and leads the Military Strategic Headquarters responsible for force design and war planning.
• The appointment follows the government’s plan to raise defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from April 2027, with a longer-term ambition of 3%, as Knighton is tasked with delivering the Strategic Defence Review’s transformation.
• Radakin’s tenure since 2021 encompassed the UK response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sustained efforts to bolster NATO support.