The latest technology - MOD supplies
At the start of the Iraq war only one of the three army bases had enough toilet rolls, never mind other equipment.
In the Falklands War most troops spent hundreds on pounds of their own money on decent sleeping bags and other cold weather kit.
We are close to spending billions on upgrading Trident – a weapons system we cannot use without permission from the Americans. The main purpose of this system is two fold – the reward American defence contractors, (So the President will be nice to us.), and keep our place in the Security Council – ie to maintain our status against the French and allow the Prime Minister to go to international power lunches.
What we don’t seem to be able to do is to provide our troops with protective clothing, decent communications and even basics, such as boots that don’t melt in the heat.
We also do not have enough troops. To be highly effective the army needs shorter tours of duty to allow recovery and retraining. It needs more troops in places like Afghanistan to consolidate gains against the Taliban.
We, I really mean they, also urgently need more helicopters.
Against pirates a number of small, but fast boats would seem more effective than large boats – though I accept that some air support would be useful.
Are we going to be in a major war? Russia is still militaristic – though here well equipped troops on the ground would seem to be the most effective in an invasion of Europe.
China and America. I think is possible, but Britain is about as far away from this conflict zone and we would be smart to stay out of it.
So let’s accept that we are a small country.
Less toys for the Admirals and Air Commodores.
More troops, more troop training, better equipment for the troops and let’s face it this will also reduce the unemployment rate and boost local economies.