Military of the United Kingdom

Military of the United Kingdom
Name	British Armed Forces
Caption	Flag of the United Kingdom
Founded	1707
Current form	1964
Branches	Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force
Headquarters	Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, London
Commander-in-chief	Charles III
Commander-in-chief title	Monarch
Chief minister	Rishi Sunak
Chief minister title	Prime Minister
Minister	Grant Shapps
Minister title	Secretary of State for Defence
Commander	Admiral Sir Ben Key
Commander title	Chief of the Defence Staff
Age	16
Active	153,290
Reserve	78,180
Amount	£50.2 billion (2023)
Percent GDP	2.1%
Domestic suppliers	BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce Holdings, MBDA
Foreign suppliers	United States, European Union
History	Military history of the United Kingdom
Ranks	Army ranks, Navy ranks, RAF ranks

Military of the United Kingdom. The British Armed Forces, formally known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories, and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the United Kingdom's wider security interests and support international peacekeeping efforts, operating under the authority of the Ministry of Defence and the command of the Monarch. The forces consist of three professional service branches: the Royal Navy (which includes the Royal Marines), the British Army, and the Royal Air Force.

History

The modern military's origins lie in the unification of the kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1707, though its traditions are rooted in earlier conflicts like the Hundred Years' War and the English Civil War. It achieved global pre-eminence during the 18th and 19th centuries, securing the British Empire through victories in conflicts such as the Seven Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Battle of Waterloo. The 20th century was defined by its pivotal role in both World War I and World War II, including major engagements like the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Britain, and the Normandy landings. The post-war period saw a shift from imperial policing to a Cold War focus within NATO, and later to expeditionary operations following the Falklands War and interventions in the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.

Organisation and structure

The overall command and administration of the forces is directed by the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, headed by the Secretary of State for Defence. Operational command is exercised by the Chief of the Defence Staff and the tri-service Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood Headquarters. The three service branches are led by their respective professional heads: the First Sea Lord for the Royal Navy, the Chief of the General Staff for the British Army, and the Chief of the Air Staff for the Royal Air Force. Key strategic commands include Strike Command and the newly established Strategic Command.

Personnel

As of 2023, the British Armed Forces have approximately 153,290 active duty personnel and 78,180 reserve personnel, including the Army Reserve, the Royal Naval Reserve, and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Personnel are recruited from across the United Kingdom, with significant garrisons in locations like Catterick Garrison and RAF Brize Norton. The forces are supported by a large civilian workforce within the Ministry of Defence and are overseen by senior officers such as the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff. Training is conducted at establishments like the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Britannia Royal Naval College, and RAF College Cranwell.

Equipment

The military operates a wide array of advanced equipment. The Royal Navy's surface fleet is centred on the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and Type 45 destroyers, while its submarine force includes the Vanguard-class and new Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines. The British Army fields main battle tanks like the Challenger 2 and armoured vehicles such as the Ajax. The Royal Air Force's combat aircraft include the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35B Lightning II, supported by transport aircraft like the Airbus A400M Atlas and tankers like the Airbus Voyager. Primary equipment suppliers are domestic firms like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce Holdings, and MBDA.

Bases and deployments

The forces maintain a global network of permanent and overseas bases. Major domestic installations include HMNB Portsmouth, Catterick Garrison, and RAF Lossiemouth. Key overseas bases are British Forces Cyprus, British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada, and the British Indian Ocean Territory garrison. Current operational deployments include ongoing training missions in Ukraine under Operation Interflex, peacekeeping in Cyprus with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, and maritime security patrols in the Persian Gulf. Other significant stations are Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, and Ascension Island.

Budget and expenditure

The defence budget is set by the HM Treasury and administered by the Ministry of Defence. For the 2023/24 financial year, the budget was approximately £50.2 billion, representing about 2.1% of the UK's GDP. Major expenditure areas include personnel costs, equipment procurement programmes like the Dreadnought-class submarine and Tempest future combat air system, and ongoing operational costs. The budget is periodically reviewed through government documents like the Integrated Review Refresh 2023 and the Defence Command Paper.

Role and operations

The primary role is the defence of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, enshrined in the concept of National Security. As a founding member of NATO, it is committed to the collective defence of the alliance under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The forces also conduct continuous global operations, including counter-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia, counter-terrorism support in the Sahel region, and humanitarian disaster relief, such as following Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean. They provide ceremonial duties in London, including the Trooping the Colour and the Guard Mounting at Buckingham Palace.

Category:Military of the United Kingdom