UK War Games Testing Weapons Stockpiles
The UK has initiated a week-long mock-up of a major conflict to evaluate the durability of its ammunition supplies in a war-time scenario. This test follows a previous failure of British stockpiles during a 10-day exercise just three years ago. The Ministry of Defence launched the war game at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire on Monday, aiming to stress-test supply chains of artillery munitions and drones in a hypothetical major war against an unspecified adversary. This exercise marks the first time representatives from the defence industry are participating alongside military commanders and officials.
Participation of Defence Companies
Several defence companies, including BAE Systems, MBDA, Lockheed Martin, and Babcock, are partaking in the war game to assess the government and industry’s ability to innovate swiftly during wartime situations. Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the importance of ensuring readiness for conflict scenarios that involve protracted fighting or severe disruption in supply chains. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where artillery and drones have played crucial roles, underscores the urgency for the UK and Europe to sustain long-term warfare.
Challenges in Defence Spending
Experts have previously warned about the inadequacy of European defence spending in the face of escalating threats from countries like Russia. While Nato allies have increased artillery shell production in recent years, it still falls short of Russian capabilities due to Moscow’s substantial defence expenditure. The UK’s Labour party aims to boost defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by next year to address these challenges and enhance military preparedness.
Past Shortages and Lessons Learned
The current war-gaming exercise follows revelations from Lt Gen Ben Hodges, former head of the US Army in Europe, who highlighted the British Army’s ammunition shortages during a previous exercise. The depletion of the entire British Army’s ammunition stocks before the completion of a 10-day drill raised concerns about the country’s readiness for prolonged conflicts. Such experiences underscore the significance of testing and evaluating weapons stockpiles to ensure adequate supplies during wartime scenarios.
