UK Armed Forces Unprepared for Conflict with Russia, MPs Warn

A Commons defence committee review highlights a recruitment crisis, weapon shortages, and the need for urgent reforms to ensure military readiness.

A year-long review by the Commons defence committee found that the UK's Armed Forces are not ready for a war with Russia due to a recruitment crisis and shortages in weapons and ammunition.
The committee warns that without urgent reforms and increased funding, the UK will not achieve warfighting or strategic readiness.
Former defence chiefs have told the committee that the Armed Forces have been 'hollowed out' since 2010, and in a peer-on-peer conflict, they would exhaust their capabilities within the first few months.
The UK is facing a major weakness in domestic manufacturing capability for weapons, combat vehicles, and ammunition, with a lack of long-term contracts for key equipment.
The MoD acknowledges the recruitment and retention crisis, stating that only five personnel are recruited for every eight that leave, and emphasizes the importance of increasing recruitment and improving retention.