A brief reading of what is known about China's current defence abilities and development plans is sobering, they seem to have chosen "all of the above". Including but not limited to: massive conventional naval fleet, full range of missiles, hundreds of advanced fighters, swarms of AI directed drones supported by high altitude swarm motherships, counter swarm systems, space weapons, nuclear, and conflict ready cyber. Perhaps more importantly, the ability to produce everything required in country, and preparation for rapid development of new technologies and surge production. Of course, China being China they are actually doing all of this rather than just thinking about it.
Where does the UK even start? Perhaps we should simply give up any idea of being a world power and address the majority of our expenditure on defence of these islands and try to become really good at one aspect, perhaps cyber.
Why would anyone want to invade us is a good starting question. We have some world influence still at the moment although things diminishing as we move back into the EU orbit. We have some oil which is worth having and we have some onshore coal which we could be put to work to mine and extract for our conquerors. We also have a decent sized population of people who could be put to work or fight. However that’s the good stuff. We are lazy, unintelligent and troublesome and totally divided and ungovernable. Our average IQ is falling with mass immigration and we produce nothing of value anymore. Maybe we aren’t worth invading?
An insolvent ageing welfare state can't really have it all. Maybe time to be realistic, give up the idea of being a global power or even an influencer and just have a homeland defence force and some missiles. And then hope no one wants to invade you, which is probably the most realistic policy at the moment. What would Russia or China gain?
Good that someone is taking these issues serioulsy. It would be interesting to compare what France or Poland are doing, they seem to get a lot more kit for the money they spend. At the end of the day, armed forces need to be visible rather than have the best kit in the world which also has to prop up a domestic defence industry. You can't have it all when you want world leading kit, which is bespoke and not at sufficient scale to be made cost effectively.
I think the trouble with the MOD and Establishment 'Defence experts' is they are largely incapable of thinking outside the box.
Keep going Pete you are a breath of fresh air and if there is any justice in this world your day will come!
A brief reading of what is known about China's current defence abilities and development plans is sobering, they seem to have chosen "all of the above". Including but not limited to: massive conventional naval fleet, full range of missiles, hundreds of advanced fighters, swarms of AI directed drones supported by high altitude swarm motherships, counter swarm systems, space weapons, nuclear, and conflict ready cyber. Perhaps more importantly, the ability to produce everything required in country, and preparation for rapid development of new technologies and surge production. Of course, China being China they are actually doing all of this rather than just thinking about it.
Where does the UK even start? Perhaps we should simply give up any idea of being a world power and address the majority of our expenditure on defence of these islands and try to become really good at one aspect, perhaps cyber.
Why would anyone want to invade us is a good starting question. We have some world influence still at the moment although things diminishing as we move back into the EU orbit. We have some oil which is worth having and we have some onshore coal which we could be put to work to mine and extract for our conquerors. We also have a decent sized population of people who could be put to work or fight. However that’s the good stuff. We are lazy, unintelligent and troublesome and totally divided and ungovernable. Our average IQ is falling with mass immigration and we produce nothing of value anymore. Maybe we aren’t worth invading?
An insolvent ageing welfare state can't really have it all. Maybe time to be realistic, give up the idea of being a global power or even an influencer and just have a homeland defence force and some missiles. And then hope no one wants to invade you, which is probably the most realistic policy at the moment. What would Russia or China gain?
Good that someone is taking these issues serioulsy. It would be interesting to compare what France or Poland are doing, they seem to get a lot more kit for the money they spend. At the end of the day, armed forces need to be visible rather than have the best kit in the world which also has to prop up a domestic defence industry. You can't have it all when you want world leading kit, which is bespoke and not at sufficient scale to be made cost effectively.