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Delivering Security in a Changing World
Future Capabilities

Annex
Determining Force Structure

In Supporting Essay 2 to the Defence White Paper “Delivering Security in a Changing World ”, we concluded that a single Defence Aim and 18 Military Tasks, would help to clarify the planning process.  In order to translate this policy framework into a detailed basis for determining the force structure required to deliver Britain’s
defence needs, we have used the methodology developed during the SDR.

Military Tasks and Strategic Effects

The first stage of this methodology is “force summation ”.  This involves assigning force elements to the full set of Military Tasks, taking account of the strategic effects that we plan to be able to deliver.  This includes both those force elements committed to standing tasks and those that are held contingent for overseas operations.
We use an effects-based approach, which enables us to be more flexible in our long-term force planning, recognising that the force structure needed to deliver effects may change over time, as threats, technology and coalitions evolve.  It encourages a realistic, up to date assessment of the capability required, rather than the fixed force structure approach of the past.  Analysis is based on a combination of military estimating by operational staffs and operational analysis by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

Concurrency

Having established what is needed to undertake particular operational scenarios, we map the conclusions against the number of operations, of a given scale of effort and duration, that we should be able to conduct at any time - what we call concurrency.  In Supporting Essay 2 we also set out our concurrency assumptions as follows:

  • That as a norm, and without creating overstretch, we should be able to mount:
    • an enduring Medium Scale operation simultaneously with
    • an enduring Small Scale operation and
    • a one-off Small Scale intervention operation.
  • That we should be able to reconfigure our forces rapidly to carry out:
    • the enduring Medium Scale operation and
    • an enduring Small Scale operation simultaneously with
    • a limited duration Medium Scale intervention operation.
  • That, given time to prepare, we should be capable of undertaking:
    • a demanding one-off Large Scale operation while still maintaining a commitment to
    • a simple Small Scale peace support operation.
  • Additionally,we must take account of the need to meet standing commitments with permanently committed forces, eg Quick Reaction Alert aircraft for integrity of UK Airspace.

Planned Force Levels

The force structure resulting from the force summation process is set out in the attached tables, showing each of the three concurrency suites.   The total requirement for each force element is determined by the largest figure derived from these concurrency permutations.  The results are set out on the final table, which shows the
planned force structure.

Generation Factors

A range of what are termed generation factors are required to take account of our experience of the numbers of units or force elements required to be held in the force structure to generate the number to be deployed.  The main elements of these factors are:

  • Generation.
    • For the Royal Navy this covers the ships’ training and maintenance requirement to make a ship available for scheduling.
    • For the Army this allows for those additional sub-units required to support formation training within readiness preparation times.
    • For the Royal Air Force the driving factor for fast jets is the availability of combat ready crews.  This varies depending on the scale of effort
      and duration of commitment, and is influenced by the rotation factor described below.  The number of crews required to meet any of the possible concurrency scenarios assumed for planning purposes is broadly similar, and equates to those required to meet a large scale commitment of all Fast Jet Force Elements.
  • Rotation.To meet enduring operations whilst ensuring operational effectiveness and without placing undue strain on the personnel concerned, we must
    retain a pool of forces to rotate through the deployed force.  Experience shows that the optimum ratio for prolonged commitments is in the region of 3 or 4 ships and 5 Army and RAF units or crew for each one deployed.

Annex: Determining the Force Structure »

FORCE STRUCTURE - MEDIUM/SMALL/SMALL CONCURRENCY

Force Element Enduring Medium Scale Operation Enduring Small Scale Operation Small Scale Intervention Standing Commitments Factors 2 Total 3
Maritime
Aircraft Carriers 0 0 0 0 0 0
Destroyers and Frigates 2 2 2 1 9 16
Amphibious Shipping 0 0 2 0 0 2
Minewarfare Vessels 0 0 0 2 1 3
Strategic Deterrent Submarines       4   4
Attack Submarines 0 1 1 1 3 6
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Nimrod MR2) 2 2 4 6 2 16
             
Land
Armoured Squadrons 3 0 0 0 9 12
Armoured Recce Squadrons 2 0.25 0.25 0 9 12
AS 90 Batteries 3 0 0 0 9 12
Lt Gun Batteries 0 1 1 0 1 3
AD Artillery Batteries 0 0 1 0.5 2 4
GS Artillery Batteries 2 0 2 0 4 8
Engineer Regiments 1.5 1 1 1 6.5 11
Infantry Battalions 3 1 1 7.33 23.33 36
RM Commandos 0 1 1 0 0 2
Equipment Support Battalions (REME) 1 0.25 0.25 0 4.5 6
Royal Logistic Corps Regiments 1 0.25 0.25 0 4.5 6
Support Helicopters 4 8 5 12 24 N/A 49
Attack Helicopters 8 0 8 0 18 34
             
Air 5
Air Defence Aircraft 0 0 6 8 N/A 14
Offensive Support Aircraft 10 10 10 0 N/A 30
             
C4ISR
Signal Regiments 2 0.3 0.5 0 6 9
Airborne Early Warning Aircraft 0 2 2 0 2 6
Reconnaissance Aircraft 1 0 1 0 1 3
             
Logistics and Strategic Enablers
Transport and Tanker Aircraft 23 7 26 2 25 83
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessels 1 2 3 0 2 8
NBC Regiment 0 0 0.5 0 0 1
RAF Regiment Field Squadrons 2 1 1 0 5 9
Field Hospitals 0.5 0.25 0.5 0 1.25 3

 2 The factors include the number of units required in the force structure to allow generation of the deployed force and the units held to rotate the enduring operations.
 3 The sum of preceding columns rounded to the nearest whole number.
 4 There is an element of choice in the type of aircraft deployed from the pool held at readiness. The actual numbers of aircraft are driven by peacetime training and maintenance requirements. Aircrew numbers are driven by rotation
 5 The fast jet numbers reflect aircraft required at readiness. The actual numbers of aircraft are driven by peacetime training and maintenance requirements. Aircrew numbers are driven by rotation.

 

FORCE STRUCTURE - MEDIUM/MEDIUM/SMALL CONCURRENCY

Force Element Enduring Medium Scale Operation Enduring Small Scale Operation Medium Scale Intervention Standing Commitments Factors 6 Total 7
Maritime
Aircraft Carriers 0 0 1 0 1 2
Destroyers and Frigates 2 2 9 1 11 25
Amphibious Shipping 0 0 8 0 0 8
Minewarfare Vessels 0 0 8 2 3 13
Strategic Deterrent Submarines       4   4
Attack Submarines 0 1 2 1 4 8
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Nimrod MR2) 2 2 4 6 2 16
             
Land
Armoured Squadrons 3 0 8 0 3 14
Armoured Recce Squadrons 2 0.25 2 0 2.25 7
AS 90 Batteries 3 0 4 0 3 10
Lt Gun Batteries 0 1 3 0 1 5
AD Artillery Batteries 0 0 3 0.5 2 6
GS Artillery Batteries 2 0 3 0 2 7
Engineer Regiments 1.5 1 4.66 0.66 2.5 11
Infantry Battalions 3 1 4 7.33 5.33 21
RM Commandos 0 0 3 0 0 3
Equipment Support Battalions (REME) 1 0.25 1 0 1.25 4
Royal Logistic Corps Regiments 1 0.25 1 0 1.25 4
Support Helicopters 8 8 5 28 24 N/A 65
Attack Helicopters 8 0 20 0 8 36
             
Air 9
Air Defence Aircraft 0 0 16 4 N/A 20
Offensive Support Aircraft 10 10 32 0 N/A 52
             
C4ISR
Signal Regiments 2 0.3 3 0 2.3 8
Airborne Early Warning Aircraft 0 2 3 0 1 6
Reconnaissance Aircraft 1 0 2 0 0 3
             
Logistics and Strategic Enablers
Transport and Tanker Aircraft 23 7 47 2 4 83
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessels 1 2 9 0 3 15
NBC Regiment 0 0 0.5 0 0 1
RAF Regiment Field Squadrons 2 1 3 0 3 9
Field Hospitals 0.5 0.25 2 0 0.25 3

 6 The factors include the number of units required in the force structure to allow generation of the deployed force and the units held to rotate the enduring operations.
 7 The sum of preceding columns rounded to the nearest whole number.
 8 There is an element of choice in the type of aircraft deployed from the pool held at readiness. The actual numbers of aircraft are driven by peacetime training and maintenance requirements. Aircrew numbers are driven by rotation.
 9 The fast jet numbers reflect aircraft required at readiness. The actual numbers of aircraft are driven by peacetime training and maintenance requirements. Aircrew numbers are driven by rotation.

 

FORCE STRUCTURE - LARGE SCALE CONCURRENCY

Force Element Large Scale Operation Enduring Small Scale peace Operation Standing Commitments Factors 10 Total 11
Maritime
Aircraft Carriers 2 0 0 1 3
Destroyers and Frigates 12 0 1 4 17
Amphibious Shipping 8 0 0 0 8
Minewarfare Vessels 10 0 2 4 16
Strategic Deterrent Submarines     4   4
Attack Submarines 3 0 1 4 8
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Nimrod MR2) 8 0 6 0 14
           
Land
Armoured Squadrons 16 0 0

2

 18
Armoured Recce Squadrons 9 0.25 0 3.75 13
AS 90 Batteries 10 0 0 5 15
Lt Gun Batteries 6 1 0 2 9
AD Artillery Batteries 8 0 0 3 11
GS Artillery Batteries 11 0 0 0 11
Engineer Regiments 6.66 1 0.66 1 10
Infantry Battalions 15 1 7.33 2.33 26
RM Commandos 3 0 0 0 3
Equipment Support Battalions (REME) 4 0.25 0 0.25 5
Royal Logistic Corps Regiments 3.66 0.25 0 0.25 5
Support Helicopters 12 81 5 24 N/A 110
Attack Helicopters 36 0 0 12 48
           
Air 13
Air Defence Aircraft 16 0 4 N/A 20
Offensive Support Aircraft 64 0 0 N/A 64
           
C4ISR
Signal Regiments 8 0.3 0 0.3 9
Airborne Early Warning Aircraft 4 0 0 2 6
Reconnaissance Aircraft 3 0 0 0 3
           
Logistics and Strategic Enablers
Transport and Tanker Aircraft 74 7 2 0 83
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessels 12 0 0 3 15
NBC Regiment 1 0 0 0 1
RAF Regiment Field Squadrons 4 0 0 0 4
Field Hospitals 3 TA 14 0 0 3

 10 The factors include the number of units required in the force structure to allow generation of the deployed force and the units held to rotate the enduring operations.
 11 The sum of preceding columns rounded to the nearest whole number.
 12 There is an element of choice in the type of aircraft deployed from the pool held at readiness. The actual numbers of aircraft are driven by peacetime training and maintenance requirements. Aircrew numbers are driven by rotation.
 13 The fast jet numbers reflect aircraft required at readiness. The actual numbers of aircraft are driven by peacetime training and maintenance requirements. Aircrew numbers are driven by rotation.
 14 We assume that the TA will meet this task after the first roule.

 

OVERALL FORCE LEVELS

Force Element Planned Force Level
Maritime
Aircraft Carriers 3 15
Destroyers and Frigates 25
Amphibious Shipping 8 16
Minewarfare Vessels 16
Strategic Deterrent Submarines 4
Attack Submarines 8
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Nimrod MR2) 16
   
Land
Armoured Squadrons 18
Armoured Recce Squadrons 13
AS 90 Batteries 15
Lt Gun Batteries 9
AD Artillery Batteries 11 17
GS Artillery Batteries 11 18
Engineer Regiments 11
Infantry Battalions 36
RM Commandos 3
Equipment Support Battalions (REME) 6
Royal Logistic Corps Regiments 6
Support Helicopters 19 115
Attack Helicopters 48
   
Air 13
Air Defence Aircraft 20 20
Offensive Support Aircraft 64 21
   
C4ISR
Signal Regiments 9
Airborne Early Warning Aircraft 6
Reconnaissance Aircraft 3
   
Logistics and Strategic Enablers
Transport and Tanker Aircraft 83
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessels 22 15
NBC Regiment 1
RAF Regiment Field Squadrons 9
Field Hospitals 3

 15 We plan to replace the Invincible Class with two larger vessels in the longer term.
 16 4 LSD(A)s, 2 LPD(R)s, 1 LPH and LSL (Sir Bedivere which is currently planned to retire from Service in 2011)
 17 7 HVM and 4 Rapier
 18 3 STA, 4 UAV and 4 Rocket.
 19 37 Chinook, 18 Merlin SH, 31 Puma and 29 Sea King 4
 20 This covers both the number of deployable aircraft and the aircraft held at readiness for the QRA air defence of the UK task, the number of the latter being unchanged.
 21 This is the number of deployable Force Elements
 22 Excludes the amphibious ships shown separately in the maritime component.

Last Updated: 26 Jul 04