Overview
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the UK lacks a complete plan to mobilise the NHS for sustained mass casualties in an Article Five conflict, with whole‑of‑government work expected to evolve over the next 12–18 months.
- He confirmed the Defence Investment Plan remains delayed with no publication date and stressed any plan must be deliverable and affordable, signalling difficult choices on what to prioritise.
- Knighton said the MoD is not currently overspent but is forecasting it would exceed its allocation by year‑end unless adjustments are made.
- He acknowledged the armed forces are not yet ready for full‑scale war, that meeting higher NATO demands will take years with delivery extending into the early 2030s, and that specialist skill shortages persist.
- He declined to confirm widely reported claims of a roughly £28bn shortfall, noting his December meeting with the prime minister was classified, and said any future UK presence in Ukraine would carry risk despite planning confidence.