How much will the defence cuts weaken the British military?
For at least a decade or so our military capabilities are going to be severely reduced. Offensive capabilities in particular have been hard hit, the early withdrawal of the Ark Royal and the Harrier force leaves us without a maritime air strike capability until 2020, when the new carriers will be built and the JSF jets come into service. No air power means we cannot deploy an effective naval task force, as aircraft carriers and the jets they carry are the center of any task force. Either Ocean or Illustrious will also be scrapped, as well as a Bay class assault ship (which are brand new), which will leave our amphibious assault capabilities greatly reduced. The reduction in the surface fleet is quite worrying, we will have only 19 frigates and destroyers, not nearly enough to protect our nation, territories, and sea lanes, let alone simultaneously launch a naval task force to intervene overseas. The Army cuts are also severe, nearly half our MBTs are to be scrapped and over a third of
