The Wargame The Big Bluff | The Wargame Ep 7
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Dec 2, 2025 
Ben Wallace, former UK Defence Secretary and army officer, and Gavin Williamson, also a former UK Defence Secretary, delve into the UK's defence readiness. They discuss the alarming vulnerabilities in air defences and the impact of budget constraints on military operations. Williamson reveals the shocking state of reserves he discovered in 2017, while Wallace reflects on the pressing need for modernization versus legacy systems. Both emphasize the urgency in addressing the growing Russian threat and the importance of real investment over mere political posturing.
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Air Defences Hollowed By Maintenance Gaps
- The UK's only ballistic-missile-capable ships are six Type 45 destroyers, but most were unavailable due to refit and parts shortages.
- Deborah Haynes highlights how spare-parts and maintenance shortfalls hollow genuine defensive capability.
Cannibalising Ships To Stay Operational
- Penny Mordaunt describes cannibalising new ships for parts to keep older Type 45s operational.
- She recalls shortages of basic spares like bolts and nuts that forced extreme measures to keep ships at sea.
Budget Cuts Versus Readiness Trade-Off
- Fiscal discipline in the Treasury led to defence being asked to live within constrained budgets, sometimes at the expense of readiness.
- Philip Hammond and others defended fiscal realism even as it risked underfunding critical capabilities.
