A joint maritime‐based expeditionary capability

Abstract

The Royal Navy, along with many other, has had to adapt both emphasis and operational patterns to a more general remit of long reach tasks of uncertain nature in a climate of cuts in both budgets and force levels. A number of major platform decisions are now in the offing the chief of which is that on future carriers (and thus aircraft) to come on‐line in twenty years time. This substantial commitment ties into the key strategic question in the current Strategic Defence Review‐whether Britain should retain an expeditionary capability for power projection at an operational level. Here Rear Admiral ‘Cobbold examines the issues at stake focusing on whether the extent and nature of Britain's wider national interests abroad really demand a military presence capable of carrying out a range of military tasks. Looking at the different elements of power projection bases, flexible, force interoperabilty the maritime and air contributions and amphibious operations, he sets out the range of threats which may need to be met. Admiral Cobbold concludes that a joint maritime expeditionary force will enable Britain to act either alone or as part of a multinational coalition contributing a coherent flexible capability to the strong defence of the UK's interests well into the next century.