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Chapter 6
Conclusion

 

6.1 Our Armed Forces will remain a crucial and important element of our national response to a diverse range of threats and crises that may impact on the UK and our global interests. The breadth of the tasks they will be required to undertake, from peacekeeping, humanitarian support and confidence building operations through to counter-terrorist and large-scale combat operations, demand that our forces be flexible and responsive, multi-roled and able to reconfigure to achieve the desired outcome. In taking forward effects-based planning and operations, our focus will move away from simple calculations of platform numbers to developing network enabled capabilities designed to achieve a range of strategic effects. A new range of equipment and systems entering service over the coming years will greatly enhance capability and ensure that UK forces remain amongst the finest in the world. Image
6.2 This broad range of operations will continue to be undertaken on a multinational basis in an equally broad alliance/coalition structure. UK forces can expect to conduct operations alongside and integrated with US, NATO, European, UN or other forces under various command arrangements, as well as purely national operations. While a major focus will be on furthering interoperability with US forces, we will need to continue to improve our capacity to operate with our European and other allies. Encouraging and supporting others to develop the skills necessary to engage in multinational operations is also an important strand of our policy.
6.3 To achieve our mission within this challenging strategic environment will require flexibility across Defence, from our people, structures and equipment. We must adapt to stay ahead of potential adversaries and be prepared to make tough decisions to ensure that our forces and equipment deliver the required capabilities. Force structures will need constantly to evolve as we seek to exploit new technologies, techniques and equipment to improve capability and respond to the changing strategic environment. Through this process of continuous improvement and adaptation, we will ensure our Armed Forces are ready and equipped to face successfully the challenges of the future and contribute to wider international security.
« Chapter 5 Annex »

Last Updated: 12 Dec 03