Re-arming the UK: What equipment? and how much?

Scott Kenny said:
Didn't General Atomics have an AEW radar pod they'd made for the Mojave/Reaper STOL?

3-5 of those onboard would have my vote.
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Yes I think GA showed a AEW solution with 3 “pods” at Farnborough 2023. Does anyone have the show report on this or GAs follow up. I believe that SAAB were developing a mini erieye for GA.
 
Forest Green said:
The rail yard just opposite Doncaster train station was converted to producing artillery pieces during WWI and II.
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I'm well aware of the wartime shadow production facilities, however these kept manufacturers mostly working within their own expertise - woodworking firms built wooden componenents, bus builders built tank transmissions and so on. Military technology, and car-building technology has evolved away from being able to easily do that.

The Telegraph's story is paywalled, but the degree of insight can be seen in their citing of Morris Motors in WWII, who were basically a disaster when they tried to manage work outside their automobile comfort zone. They were supposed to manage Castle Bromwich production of Spitfires, but wanted to use automobile technology, ignore the production drawings, and, amongst other things, redesign all the curves into straight lines. Disaster was only averted when Beaverbrook basically scammed Nuffield into handing the whole thing back to government.

Modern automobile production is no longer general tin-kicking, it's slapping together just-in-time delivered parts from all over the world. You'd need to change over the entire supply chain to get anything useful, and even then the assembly lines are so tightly optimised you'd probably be better off starting over on a green-field site.
 
What was the target?
 
Rumour inbound.
Beware and take with salt.
But this comes via potentially involved MoD staff.
Conscription planning is real.
 
zen said:
Rumour inbound.
Beware and take with salt.
But this comes via potentially involved MoD staff.
Conscription planning is real.
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Planning for all sorts of things has always been real, what would we do if.....

The exercises for the Nuclear weapons convoys was always interesting, for example, the plane crashing into the convoy.

Police, fire and ambulance also work hard to plan for a big range of potential events, with a playbook / folder on a shelf somewhere.

With the current Europe we live in, i'd be more surprised if this sort of thing has not already been looked at and worked through.
 
Previously this was thought to be in Sheffield as well as the BAE one...and Forgemasters. But has now been confirmed as Telford, presumably next to the existing RBSL facility. Opens in 2027.

Rheinmetall Confirms Site for UK Barrel Facility

Rheinmetall has confirmed Telford as the home of its new Gun Hall.
www.rheinmetall.com www.rheinmetall.com
 
I stand by my warning, and this piece mates with it and the likely origin post-David Betts piece on increasing risks of Civil War.
Conscription planning post 2022 would not take 3 years to complete. That is just lifting out old plans and updating. The much more logical case for why this is coming out now, is the full realisation of how fragile Civil Infrastructure is.
Not helped by the results of recent wargaming simulations.
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‘Home Guard’ to protect UK from infrastructure attack

A civilian force of thousands would guard vital facilities such as airports and nuclear plants under proposals for ‘pre-war era’

Harry Yorke, Deputy Political Editor
Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor

Saturday May 17 2025, 10.30pm BST, The Sunday Times
www.thetimes.com

‘Home Guard’ to protect UK from infrastructure attack

Thousands may be recruited into a civilian force to guard vital facilities such as airports and nuclear plants under proposals for ‘pre-war era’
www.thetimes.com www.thetimes.com
 
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zen said:
A civilian force of thousands would guard vital facilities such as airports and nuclear plants under proposals for ‘pre-war era’
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View: https://youtu.be/rZJXLeXO3n4


Contemporary discussion about current and immediate demands on the UK. Civil defence mentioned, but the topics range from countering coercion at a distance to force projection. Geographical depth in special focus here from the state of alliances to the actual and perceived proximity to Russia.
 
Has the DSR actually been completed? I think not and thus you are again just continuing mindless fear mongering/speculation. I also suspect that regardless of the outcome you are not going to be happy...
 
The MOD's plans for the new Home Guard have already been reported:
www.thetimes.com

‘Home Guard’ to protect UK from infrastructure attack

Thousands may be recruited into a civilian force to guard vital facilities such as airports and nuclear plants under proposals for ‘pre-war era’
www.thetimes.com www.thetimes.com
(Subscription or registration may be required)

www.standard.co.uk

UK to launch Home Guard to protect power plants and airports amid rising threats

The UK may see a return of the famous WW2 fighting force to combat attacks on important domestic facilities
www.standard.co.uk www.standard.co.uk

EDIT: Forgot that Zen and UpForce had already posted articles on the story.
 
Grey Havoc said:
Just over 1240 miles. Not too shabby.
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This report from last year indicated a range of 2000-miles requirement from the UK, i wonder if demands has changed that much since then :)

A 2000-miles system would likely have to be of MRBM or even HGV design ?

www.thetimes.com

UK considers long-range missiles to counter Putin’s nuclear threat

Sources expect collaboration with Germany on weapon that could reach Moscow if Russia pushes nuclear button
www.thetimes.com www.thetimes.com

Britain is considering developing long-range missiles that can take out President Putin’s nuclear weapons launched from inside Russia as fears mount in Europe that he may be prepared to use them.

The UK has signalled it will work with Germany to build a weapon with a range of about 2,000 miles, diplomatic sources disclosed.

Allies envisage the weapon being able to travel from as far as Berlin to Moscow in the event that Putin decides to launch tactical nuclear weapons.
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xefehs said:
This report from last year indicated a range of 2000-miles requirement from the UK, i wonder if demands has changed that much since then :)

A 2000-miles system would likely have to be of MRBM or even HGV design ?

www.thetimes.com

UK considers long-range missiles to counter Putin’s nuclear threat

Sources expect collaboration with Germany on weapon that could reach Moscow if Russia pushes nuclear button
www.thetimes.com www.thetimes.com
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They really think that Putin is still going to be a pain in the global ass in 10-20 years?
 
Scott Kenny said:
They really think that Putin is still going to be a pain in the global ass in 10-20 years?
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He could live that long. And his obsession is restoring the Russian Empire...so yes.

But even if he dies....from the political set up he will bequeath its unlikely his successor will be singing Kumbaya, releasing white doves etc...
 
xefehs said:
This report from last year indicated a range of 2000-miles requirement from the UK, i wonder if demands has changed that much since then :)

A 2000-miles system would likely have to be of MRBM or even HGV design ?

www.thetimes.com

UK considers long-range missiles to counter Putin’s nuclear threat

Sources expect collaboration with Germany on weapon that could reach Moscow if Russia pushes nuclear button
www.thetimes.com www.thetimes.com
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Hmm... other places are saying 2,000km.

Of course they could buy some Dark Eagles and stick nuclear tips on them. Have some mobile land launchers in old Gryphon bases and keep some of the Vanguards with VPMs to triple load them.
 
Forest Green said:
Hmm... other places are saying 2,000km.

Of course they could buy some Dark Eagles and stick nuclear tips on them. Have some mobile land launchers in old Gryphon bases and keep some of the Vanguards with VPMs to triple load them.
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The point is to reduce dependence on the US ? Buying LRHW makes no sense at all
Possibly this also meant for a sharing umbrella agreement with Germany, but that's just my guess
 
Scott Kenny said:
They really think that Putin is still going to be a pain in the global ass in 10-20 years?
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More likely 'they' think the Russian Elite see the world in a particular way and Putin is just a specific expression of that view.
Even without Putin, another leader would still do a host of things that Putin has done. Because there is broad agreement on those issues.

Historically Russia and Britain have oscillated between alliance and enmity, due to the vagaries of history and certainties of geography.

So we should be wary of assuming that it is only Putin who drives current Russian policy and rather assume the worst. Prepare for it and hope for the best.
 
Forest Green said:
Have some mobile land launchers in old Gryphon bases
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I was going to say that probably wasn't possible...but looking at Greenham Common and Molesworth (which is still used by USAF) you could segregate the facilities off still. Probably have to add some more infrastructure, particularly at Greenham Common but it would be doable.
 
zen said:
More likely 'they' think the Russian Elite see the world in a particular way and Putin is just a specific expression of that view.
Even without Putin, another leader would still do a host of things that Putin has done. Because there is broad agreement on those issues.

Historically Russia and Britain have oscillated between alliance and enmity, due to the vagaries of history and certainties of geography.

So we should be wary of assuming that it is only Putin who drives current Russian policy and rather assume the worst. Prepare for it and hope for the best.
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I'm not sure how many of the Russian Elites have the same hard-on to restore the Russian Empire territorially that Czar Vlad does.

I'm sure they'd all love to have a bigger economy, which they don't have to invade sovereign nations to get.
 
Scott Kenny said:
I'm not sure how many of the Russian Elites have the same hard-on to restore the Russian Empire territorially that Czar Vlad does.

I'm sure they'd all love to have a bigger economy, which they don't have to invade sovereign nations to get.
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Many don't. A significant number would have happily remained at the pre-2014 state of affairs rather than be bounced into confrontation with the West. But...Putin practices classic divide and rule. There are competing groups around him, that effectively balance each other out...it might well be that the only way that this balance works in practice for a potential successor, one who in the short term could appease both sides before establishing his rule, is to follow Putin's already set path...
 

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