Is this really a priority?

gloswhite wrote:

xmiles wrote:It seems obvious that we need to put more resources into cyber security but part of the problem is caused by people still believing we are a first rate power when we no longer are. 

XM, we are one of the leading 'first rate powers' in the cyber world, because we have ploughed a lot of money, (as well as training, expertise, etc.), into it. In order to maintain our influence in the defence world, we also have to continue investing in our armed forces. 
One thing I would suggest that would help with the financing, is not to send our forces all over the world, and the drop of a hat. We cannot be a world policeman any more.

Even if we are a first rate power in cyber warfare terms (although I doubt we have anything like the capacity of the Russians, Chinese and Americans) this does not make us a first rate military power.

We would save ourselves a lot of money if we stopped deluding ourselves that we were and, as you agree, stop sending forces all over the world at the drop of a hat.

Spot on with both of those comments xmiles.

You can't just "stop sending forces all over the world" you pair of bellends, even Switzerland have to send forces to certain places.

Nobody has suggested that, you’ve missed the ‘at the drop of a hat’. Getting involved in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan were each very poor decisions - that can’t be denied.

Natasha Whittam wrote:You can't just "stop sending forces all over the world" you pair of bellends, even Switzerland have to send forces to certain places.

Switzerland deploys a total of about 30 unarmed military observers, police and experts abroad.

xmiles wrote:Switzerland deploys a total of about 30 unarmed military observers, police and experts abroad.

My point exactly. So why you think we can just walk away without consequence is quite mystifying.

Switzerland is a "Neutral" country thus it's military cannot be involved in armed conflict outside its own borders, though they do take part in humanitarian efforts under the auspices of the UN. There were at one time a group of Swiss Special Forces soldiers based in Kosovo but they were unarmed.

They can turn ugly when they get those Swiss army knives out.

BAe Global Combat Ship for Oz and hopefully Canada in the near future. Unfortunately the Aussies are going to build more than for the Royal Navy, but still very good news.

 https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/maritime-antisub/2496-sea-5000-winner-announced

Well at least it's not another aircraft carrier with no aircraft.

xmiles wrote:Well at least it's not another aircraft carrier with no aircraft.

Aircraft trials never occupy a new carrier until all sea trials and systems trials are completed. I do believe it's later this year that flying testing will take place. Lots of bods stateside working up and getting used to "Big carrier" flying ops which we lost when Labour, under Harold Wilson and Defence bod Denis Healey decimated naval aviation ops by cancelling the successor aircraft carriers. It will take years to get up to proper speed as skills will need to be honed, but it'll be worth it in the end. Of course I speak from a serving officer's point of view with restrictions.