War is changing and military strategy no longer delivers victory because of a “short war fallacy”. That warning comes from eminent defence historian Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, who was part of the Iraq inquiry panel.He tells Sitrep why he believes military strategists, and their political masters, need to change their mindset, while Professor Michael Clarke explains how the UK’s recent defence review stacks up against that thinking.Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton has been confirmed as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Sitrep assesses what he’ll bring to this newly beefed-up role leading the Armed Forces.And Dr Victoria Taylor tells us why German reticence to share the history of the Luftwaffe means we may have failed, until now, to fully understand the Battle of Britain.
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EXTRA – Eagle Days, the story of the Luftwaffe through German eyes
The history of the Battle of Britain has been written many times over the last 85 years, but almost always from a British perspective.The award-winning aviation historian Dr Victoria Taylor believes that’s led to the Luftwaffe’s role being oversimplified, meaning we don’t truly understand what happened.She talks to Sitrep editor James Hirst about her new book “Eagle Days”, which takes a fresh look at the story of wartime Germany’s air force to understand the psychology which drove its actions.Researched through the letters and diaries of the men who served she tells us why this was not the David vs Goliath fight that is often simply portrayed, and why the idea that “they were just like us” is a troubling misunderstanding.
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Cash vs Capability. 5% defence spending explained
NATO countries have signed up hundreds of billions of pounds in extra defence spending by 2035, but no one has told us yet what it will be spent on.But Mike explains how the UK’s part can already be seen in recent Strategic Defence Review.From F-bombs to F-35s, and the viral ‘Daddy’ moment, there was a lot of political theatre at the NATO summit. But a former commander of the UK-led Allied Rapid Reaction Corps tells Sitrep why he’s sure that, behind the scenes, serious military figures have a firm grip on getting things done.And Sian Grzeszczyk-Melbourne gives us an insider’s take from The Hague, including the importance of seating plans and President Trump turning the tables on a Ukrainian journalist.
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EXTRA - Why Cyprus matters - the UK Defence Adviser explains
The UK has around 100 square miles of sovereign territory in Cyprus, home to more than 3000 Defence personnel, and it is a lynchpin of British military operations around the world.On the doorstep of the Middle East it’s used from everything from bombing missions, to intelligence gathering and decompression for troops returning from operations.Sitrep talks to Colonel Vicky Reid about her key role as the UK Defence Adviser in Cyprus, responsible not only for helping deliver missions such as civilian evacuations, but also keeping everything running smoothly by maintaining the working relationship with the government of Cyprus[This interview was recorded before the war between Israel and Iran, when extra RAF jets were deployed to Cypus]
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UK military contingency plans for the Iran/Israel war explained
RAF planes have been moved to the Middle East for ‘contingency support’, but what could those contingencies end up being?Professor Michael Clarke maps out the British military presence in the region, which could come under threat from Iran in a worst-case scenario.Lord Peter Ricketts, who led many a crisis meeting as National Security Adviser, explains how and why the UK is making military plans even as it calls for de-escalation.And a former Deputy Commander of RAF Operations, Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, tells us how those British aircraft could be used, and in what situations that might happen.
Colombia