UK Not Fully Ready for War, Says Military Chief
The head of the UK’s Armed Forces has warned that the country is not fully prepared for a large war. Sir Richard Knighton said the UK is “not as ready as we need to be” for the kind of serious conflict it might face in the future.
Sir Richard made these comments while speaking to the parliamentary Defence Committee. He was asked about reports that the government does not have enough money planned for defence over the next few years. However, he avoided giving direct answers about the size of the funding gap.
Recent reports by The Times and The Sun said the Ministry of Defence believes it will need an extra £28 billion over the next four years to cover its costs. Because of this, the government has had to rethink its defence spending plans.
The defence investment plan, which explains how money will be spent on military equipment and buildings, was expected to be published last autumn. However, it has been delayed. Sir Richard told MPs that he could not give a new date for when the plan would be released. He did say, however, that the department is “working flat out” to complete it.
The UK is under growing pressure to spend more on defence. This is partly because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and also because of concerns about global security. The re-election of US President Donald Trump has added to worries, as some European countries fear they may have to rely more on their own military strength. Other Nato countries are also facing pressure to increase defence budgets.
Last year, the Labour Party promised to increase defence spending. It said it would raise spending from 2.3% of the UK’s national income to 2.5% by 2027. This would cost about £6 billion more each year. Labour also said it plans to increase defence spending further to 3.5% by 2035.
The defence investment plan will explain how the government plans to pay for new military equipment, technology, and infrastructure, such as bases and transport systems. It will also show which parts of defence will be given priority.
Reports say Sir Richard warned the prime minister and the chancellor before Christmas that the defence budget could be short by £28 billion. He reportedly gave this warning in a forecast shared with senior leaders.
When questioned by MPs, Sir Richard confirmed that he met Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in December. They discussed the defence investment plan during that meeting. However, Sir Richard said the details were classified and could not be shared in public.
“I’m not going to talk about that in public,” he said.
He also explained that even though defence spending has increased to a very high level, the military still faces limits. He said it was obvious that the Armed Forces cannot do everything they want to do at the same time with the budget they have.
“This means ministers have to make difficult choices,” he said. Some projects may need to be delayed or reduced so others can move forward.
The Ministry of Defence has struggled with money problems for many years. In 2023, the department found that its equipment plan was likely to go over budget by £16.9 billion. Then in 2024, the Public Accounts Committee said the UK could face a £29 billion gap in defence spending plans.
These repeated warnings show how difficult it has been for the MoD to match its ambitions with the money available. Rising costs, inflation, and new security threats have all added to the problem.
During the same committee session, MPs asked Sir Richard about the UK’s readiness to send troops to Ukraine. This would be part of a European reassurance force, if a peace agreement is reached between Ukraine and Russia.
Sir Richard did not say how many soldiers the UK could send. However, he said he was confident that the British Army could meet its commitments in the short term. This suggests that while the UK could act quickly, long-term deployments may be more challenging.
MPs also asked about the UK’s readiness at home if a major conflict were to happen. Sir Richard admitted that the country is not as prepared as he would like.
He said more work needs to be done to protect important infrastructure. This includes railways, power supplies, flood defences, and other vital systems. These could be targets for sabotage during a war or crisis.
Sir Richard stressed that national resilience is just as important as military strength. A country needs to keep transport, energy, health services, and communications working during a conflict.
Another serious issue raised was healthcare. MPs asked whether the UK could treat large numbers of injured soldiers if a major war broke out.
Sir Richard said work is being done on this issue, but he admitted there is no complete plan in place. He said the UK does not have a clear, overall plan for how the NHS would be fully mobilised during an all-out war in Europe.
This raised concerns about whether hospitals, staff, and resources would be enough to handle both civilians and wounded soldiers at the same time.
In summary, Sir Richard’s comments highlight several major concerns. These include a possible £28 billion gap in defence funding, delays to key spending plans, and weaknesses in the UK’s national preparedness. While the Armed Forces can respond in the short term, long-term readiness remains a challenge.
The warning comes at a time when global tensions are rising and countries across Europe are being urged to strengthen their defences. Sir Richard’s message was clear: the UK must act faster and plan better if it wants to be fully prepared for future conflicts.
Published: 13th January 2026
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