Government releases refresh of Defence Command Paper

Homeland July 21, 2023

Refresh of Defence Command Paper sees £2.5Bn investment in stockpiles as UK seeks to learn from current global tensions and improve its security planning.

The Integrated Review Refresh 2023 (IRR), was published in March of this year, alongside an announcement at the Spring Budget of an additional investment in Defence of £5Bn over two years, with an aspiration that the government should spend 2.5% of GDP on Defence over the longer term.

However, global conditions and the changing landscape of threats to security have prompted government to publish a refresh of the 2021 Defence Command Paper to Defence Command Paper 2023 (DCP23). This was an unanticipated update, but will help address these new threats and keep our security services ahead of the curve.

The Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCP23), takes learnings from the war in Ukraine and sets out a plan to deliver a credible warfighting force that will keep us on track to act as a global heavyweight both now and in the future.

The DCP23 outlines how the British Armed Forces will modernise and adapt to the changing global picture and, in particular, prioritise investment in science and technology.

It sets out:

An additional £2.5 billion investment into our stockpiles and munitions, on top of the increased investment committed at the Autumn Statement;
A Global Response Force that enables the UK to ‘get there first’, bringing together our deployed and high-readiness forces, and drawing on capabilities from all domains;
How Defence will become a science and technology superpower, enhancing our capabilities in fields such as robotics, human augmentation, directed energy weapons and advanced materials, to gain the edge on the battlefield;
An improved surge capacity through our Strategic Reserve, built around the ex-regular reserve forces to add further depth and expertise in time of crisis;
A new alliance with industry, engaging much earlier in strategic conversations and building in greater financial headroom to respond to changing needs;
A new employment model and skills framework, increasing fluidity between the military, the Civil Service and industry, while offering a more compelling and competitive incentivisation package;
A further £400 million to modernise accommodation that our service families deserve, which is essential for the operational effectiveness of our personnel.

Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said: “We must adapt and modernise to meet the threats we face, taking in the lessons from President Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

“This Defence Command Paper will sharpen our strategic approach – ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of military capability, and a leading power in NATO.”

Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey said: “Our people and their expertise are at the heart of what we do, underpinning our strategic advantage across all domains and delivering a force that deters against threats and defends our homeland and those of our Allies.

“We also recognise that to maintain advantage over adversaries we have to do things differently, responding to rapidly evolving geopolitical, technological and economic threats, learning lessons from Ukraine, and championing closer integration with our Allies and partners.

“This Defence Command Paper sets out how we’ll do this – prioritising investment in replenishment, modernising our forces and embodying a fully integrated approach to deterrence and defence.”

David Lockwood, Chief Executive of Babcock International said: “We welcome the refreshed Defence Command Paper and the clear recognition of the need for a new alliance and approach to partnership with industry to tackle the threats and challenges we face together. We look forward to continuing working with the Government to deliver the capability our Armed Forces need.”

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Defence Command Paper integrated refresh