BFBS Sitrep

There’s a rifle race going on right now – Project Grayburn is the campaign to find the successor to the British Army’s SA80 which entered service in the 1980s. We’ll be looking at what the soldiers say they want, what the MOD says it wants and when it might happen. Forces News’ Sian Grzeszczyk Melbourne and Justin Bosanquet went to the US and were the first journalists to try out some of the rifles that might one day be in British military hands.

In theory 95,000 veterans could be liable for recall if the UK was at war, or headed that way, but for decades it’s been little more than a notional force, lying dormant.That is about to change though.  Thousands could soon get letters calling them up for an exercise next year, to help the MoD faces challenges as basic as locating people, let alone equipping and training them.Sitrep explains why this is only a first step to generating a force which could be vital within a few years and what these reservists could be asked to do in a crisis, while veterans campaigner Jonny Ball tells us how it will go down with those asked to step up.And as Russian bombardment of Ukraine reaches new record levels we get a first hand taste of the reality, when an airstrike interrupts our conversation with Colin Freeman.

Iran’s strikes on US military bases in the Middle East are a blunt reminder that British servicemen and women deployed in the region face real risks.Professor Michael Clarke assesses the dangers while former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe explains the options for British ships which had been standing by for a possible protection role in the Strait of Hormuz.Often UK and US bases are co-located, including Bahrain which a US Navy Admiral has told his personnel they won’t be returning to “any time soon”.Retired Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall, who led the creation of the Royal Navy base in Bahrain, explains the potential impact for a facility designed to operate independently of the US but also primarily intended for joint operations.

The UK has handed final blueprints for Storm Shadow missiles to Kyiv, while a treasure trove of battlefield data is coming to Britain.  Can this tech-swap help Ukraine break through front lines largely frozen because of drone saturation in the skies? Professor Michael Clarke explains how Storm Shadow could help Ukraine push through Russian lines, but won’t be a game changer on its own. And electronic-warfare expert Dr Thomas Withington tells Sitrep how Ukrainian drone recordings could be invaluable for the UK if it ever needs to take on Russian air defences. Plus former UK military attaché to Russia, John Foreman, assesses the surprise visit of the CIA Director to Moscow and tells Sitrep why the size of your plane really matters on such trips.

It’s not just Russia’s threat of “consequences” for British made drones used in Ukrainian strikes, US intelligence says Moscow is considering a bigger provocation of NATO possibly within weeks.Grey-zone expert Elisabeth Braw explains how British troops in Estonia and Poland could be an attractive target for Russia, perhaps by creating a crisis that faces them with an impossible choice or disinformation designed to turn the local population against them.Professor Michael Clarke analyses the sub-threshold attacks that have already surged in recent years against everything from railways to top defence industry executives.And Royal Navy Commodore Maryla Ingham tells Sitrep her time leading NATO Standing Maritime Group One, including patrols to protect critical undersea cables from Russian attack.

The Chief of the Defence Staff says it’s the "most dangerous period" he’s known in his entire military career. And we've all heard the warnings of the potential for direct armed conflict with Russia within 5 years. But what else should we be preparing for?  Kate and Mike are joined by Tobias Ellwood, former Defence Minister, former Chair of the Defence Committee and a former soldier. He's the author of 'Ten Steps to Prevent World War Three.’ We’re also joined by the former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Sir Richard Shirreff, who served 37 years in the British Army.  

From quantum computing to biotechnology NATO has just upped its investment in startups that are trying to turn science-fiction ideas into frontline capabilities.Sitrep explains the NATO DIANA innovation accelerator and some of the breakthroughs it’s hoping will soon become kit in the hands of troops.A new Defence University Alliance has also just been formed to help Britain develop and deploy cutting-edge war-winning tech.  The Chief Executive of Universities UK explains how.And after an explosive drone was found at a German airport, and a missile came down in Poland, Professor Michael Clarke assesses NATO’s red lines for overspill from the Ukraine war.

The official announcement of hundreds more British troops for Estonia, transitioning to a “mobile anti-armour” force, missed out one key detail.  It will end a decade of British tanks on Russia’s doostep, as Challenger 2’s are upgraded to become Challenger 3’sBFBS Forces News reporter James Wharton explains how he uncovered the story, and why it will mean the burden of Estonia deployments being differently spread among British soldiers.Troops will get new kit including drones, and precision fires. Former tank commander Justin Crump tells us what matters is the capabilities they have and whether it makes us look weak or strong.And RUSI Director of Military Sciences, Matthew Savill, explains the job facing British Lieutenant General Tom Bateman who has just taken command of the Multinational Force For Ukraine.

Armed Forces bills come round every five years and you might think they’re just a box ticking exercise to renew the legal basis of our military.But they’re so much more, affecting the lives, jobs, and safety of servicemen and women, plus their families.Sitrep explains key measures on military housing, justice, reserve forces, and protection of British bases from drones, currently going through Parliament.And Professor Michael Clarke gives us his take on what the new Prime Minister, Chancellor, and Defence Secretary might mean for the forces. 

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe and experienced RAF leader, explains how Europe and the UK stepped in after US cuts. He discusses force sourcing to backfill gaps, mixing domain effects instead of one-for-one platform swaps, the 5% defence spending commitment, and faster innovation, readiness and deterrence planning across the alliance.