Britain too poor to struggle a struggle till 2030 as high brass warns ‘we’ve got no money’
General Sir Richard Barrons warns the UK can’t afford new drones or weapons until 2030, leaving the military in short supply as tech firms flee for Germany
Concerns have been raised about the UK’s ability to buy new military equipment(Image: Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Britain is too skint to fight a war for at least another four years because the cupboard is bare for new weapons, a former military chief has warned. In a scathing takedown of the nation’s lack of preparation, General Sir Richard Barrons claims the armed forces can only “think about” getting ready for battle because there is simply no money left in the pot until 2030.
The former military bigwig, who co-authored the strategic defence review, warned the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has actually gone backwards over the last year.
The General claims that while the Army has “just about” enough cash for old-school kit like tanks and choppers, it can’t afford the high-tech gear needed for modern warfare, including kamikaze drones and AI bots.
Current Army chief General Sir Roly Walker wants a “20-40-40” force, where 80% of power comes from cheap, expendable drones and smart tech, but Sir Richard says the nation simply can’t afford the bill.
As reported by The Times, he said: “There is no money now and there may not be any money for four years. A lot of technologically brilliant companies have followed the money to Germany and Poland or to the US…we are at risk of actually depleting the industrial base that we know we need.”
While Britain counts its pennies, Sir Richard praised Germany for splashing the cash. By 2030, the Germans will be spending a whopping £165billion, more than the UK and France combined.
Sir Richard suggested that when the UK finally does find some spare change, it will be at the back of the queue.
He said: “When you want stuff those companies make…you are not first in the queue.” He added that the UK will end up having to buy kit from abroad because its own factories have vanished.
The General’s blast follows heavy fire from other experts. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen accused the government of “corrosive complacency,” while former Trump adviser Dr Fiona Hill said the UK is “less resilient than it should be” given the state of the world.
Sir Richard believes the MoD needs an extra £10billion every year to fix the mess, claiming Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ current offer isn’t nearly enough.
He added that the UK is “still either in denial or incapable of sorting itself out for the world we now live in.” Despite the gloomy warning, MoD bosses insist they are pouring cash into the frontline.
A spokesperson said: “This government is providing the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, with £270billion being invested in defence in this parliament alone.”
They claim 93% of their spending is going to UK firms and promised a new “investment plan” will fix the “outdated, overcommitted and underfunded” mess they inherited.
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