Land operations
T armour up ime to
From technical mishaps to a lack of funds, the UK’s tank force has struggled since the end of the Cold War. The situation is arguably even worse when you compare the UK to its Nato allies, with several European countries enjoying far more comprehensive armoured options. Yet, with flexible new vehicles on the horizon and sophisticated technology improving existing tanks, might the woes of Britain’s armour finally be over? Andrea Valentino talks to Nicholas Drummond, an ex-British army officer and tank expert, and Robert Clark, defence fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, to learn more.
I
n November 2021, Boris Johnson found himself in front of one of Westminster’s countless committees. He could have been answering questions about anything – but on that particular Wednesday, he was talking tanks. Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Defence Committee and an ex-captain in the Royal Green Jackets, was quizzing the prime minister on the ominous build-up of Russian armour in eastern Europe, and what the government proposed to do about it. The prime minister seemed relaxed. “We have
to recognise that the old concepts of fighting big tank battles on European landmass are over,” he said, confidently adding that the British Army would be better served investing in digital technology and cybersecurity. At the time, Johnson was no doubt pleased with his remark. But given events over the past few months, he may now be inclined to re-evaluate. Despite his claims, tank battles on the European landmass are very much in vogue – as anyone with access to the current news cycle will have noticed.
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Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
UK MOD, Crown copyright
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