BFBS Sitrep

It’s the new defence masterplan for the next decade and beyond, but what does the Strategic Defence Review mean for the Armed Forces? The lead military author of the review, General Sir Richard Barrons, joins a special live edition of Sitrep to explain the plan and answer your questions about how it should work. Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe adds his insights to the discussion with Kate G...

As the Royal Navy unveils HMS Venturer to the public for the first time – we ask, what hope does the first Inspiration Class Frigate offer a surface fleet short on ships and sailors? Sitrep’s reporter David Sivills-McCann has all the answers - he witnessed the new type 31 frigate rolling out of the build hall in Rosyth. The former second sea lord and Babcock chief executive of marine Sir Nick Hine...

Keir Starmer says it puts Britain back on the world stage.  Some critics claim it could drag Britain into some kind of “EU army”. Sitrep explains what is, and isn’t, included in the new 62-point defence partnership agreement, and what it might mean for our Armed Forces. Amid intense scrutiny of past actions by UK Special Forces, and a former SAS commander’s warning about the “complete absence...

New satellite images show Russia’s building up its military presence on the border of Finland, as it reorganises and concentrates its military closer to NATO neighbours. But is this preparation for war within years, or trying to maintain “peace through fear”? Mike explains what Russia’s doing with its forces, and Finnish OSINT analyst Emil Kastehelmi tells us what he’s found in the satellite image...

For 9 years in a row the service complaints system has been deemed to not be efficient, effective or fair by the watchdog that oversees it. But despite that, and some of the high-profile stories of past failures, the Ombudsman says there’s been significant progress and that planned changes can deliver more improvements. Sitrep talks at length to Mariette Hughes about why delays don’t just affect t...

Britain and its allies fought Nazi Germany for a gruelling four and a half years in all, but once allied ground troops landed in Europe, creating the Western Front, they completed the victory in just eleven months. Kate and Mike are joined by Dr Meghan Kellegher from the RAF Museum to explain the strategy which led to victory, and what the allies got wrong as well as right. VE Day wasn’t the end o...

Pakistan and India have already fought two wars over disputed Kashmir, now after a terror attack that killed 26 tourists spiralling tensions have brought warnings another war could be imminent. South Asia expert Dr Walter Ladwig tells us why some kind of clash seems inevitable, as Sitrep compares military capabilities and past conflicts to explain who’s most likely to come out on top. The RAF has...

Former Conservative MP Jack Lopresti joined Ukraine’s foreign legion, in November 2024, to share his insights and experience of procurement and diplomacy. Those skills have become all the more important since the diplomatic earthquakes of Donald Trump’s presidency, including a temporary halt to American weapons, ammunition and intelligence for Ukraine. Mr Lopresti tells Sitrep about the impact on...

Drones have come of age in Ukraine, ruling the battlefield and overtaking artillery as the leading cause of casualties. Kate and Mike are joined by RAF veteran Dr Keith Dear to explain how small devices once designed for consumers are now not only flying spies, but also lethal weapons that have radically changed the way land battles are fought. Ukrainian drone-experts are reported to be training B...

The death and destruction in Ukraine has only intensified in the two months since Donald Trump unilaterally announced peace talks, and the one month since Ukraine offered a 30-day ceasefire. With diplomacy having delivered nothing so far Sitrep explains how the war has played out in that time, who has the battlefield momentum, and the potential paths ahead. Equipment is key to Ukraine’s chances bu...

The Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier will be accompanied by more than 3000 servicemen and women, up to 24 RAF fighter jets, four British ships and four more from allies to sail as a carrier strike group halfway round the world. But it is a considerably more dangerous world than four years ago when a British carrier group last sailed to the Indo-Pacific. Retired Commodore Steve Prest tells us w...

The world’s biggest military powers are all jockeying for position in and around the Arctic, starkly illustrated by Donald Trump’s demands for the US to buy Greenland even though it’s  already NATO territory. Sitrep explains the melting pot of strategic positioning, potential trade routes, and natural resources that are driving shows of military force, including by the UK, in the High North....

The head of NATO says nothing can replace the US nuclear umbrella as the ultimate guarantee of our security,  and “Europe needs to know Uncle Sam still has our back” But amid doubts about US commitment there is talk creating a comprehensive European nuclear capability without American-owned weapons.  Could the UK and France really provide a Europe only deterrent?  And if so, should...

The head of the Army has spoken of his “anger and shame” after more than a thousand women shared stories of harassment, bullying and much worse while they served their country. Another set of changes have been announced to try to stop unacceptable behaviours, including a tri-service unit to take over the most serious complaints from the chain of command. But is it enough? Sitrep explains the detai...

Sitrep assesses how the 30-day ceasefire, offered by Ukraine, could work in reality.  Would troops just stay in place and dig in, or might they have to pull back from a buffer zone? It is a tactical trade-off by Kyiv which gives it back US military aid and intelligence, and forces Russia onto the diplomatic back foot. Professor Michael Clarke explains which side has most to gain from a pause...

Whatever you think of how President Trump said it to President Zelensky, the fact is Ukraine is not in good position.  That was made worse by the freezing of US military aid, and crucial moment-by-moment intelligence. Sitrep explains how that has left Ukraine “blindfolded with one hand tied behind its back”  and assesses its options to stay in the fight or even strengthen its position fo...

We now have a deadline for the UK to spend 2.5% of national income on defence and it’s much sooner than anyone expected.  But cash doesn’t just turn into military might. There are many things you could spend it on. People? Hardware? Training? The real question is what you should spend it on, for the right capabilities at the right times. There are urgent priorities to rapidly improve defence...

In the 1970’s and 1980’s the UK typically spent 4-5% of its national income on Defence, but what did that money buy and what did our Armed Forces spend their time doing? Kate Gerbeau and Professor Michael Clarke talk to historian Ian J Sanders, host of the Cold War Conversations podcast, for a history lesson on how we deployed our military capability to protect Europe from a Russian led threat. Ti...

Despite the many uncertainties about a possible peace-deal for Ukraine, Britain’s Defence Secretary says the detail is being developed for a European led security guarantee. Former head of the Army General Lord Dannatt warns that while the Prime Minister is ready and willing to commit British troops, the Army is willing but not ready. Sitrep assesses how many people and what equipment it might be...

Donald Trump’s tried to take Ukraine’s future out of its own hands by opening negotiations with Russia, and telling Kyiv that NATO membership and getting all of its land back are hopeless ambitions. So what should Ukraine do now? Could focussing on the fight still improve its negotiating position, or has it reached its high watermark in the war? Professor Michael Clarke and retired General Sir Ric...

Keir Starmer wants a post-brexit reset with the EU, and he thinks it should start with “an ambitious partnership” on defence and security.   But would it help our Armed Forces when we already have NATO? Former Army officer Ed Arnold explains how both the EU and NATO could give us more bang-for-our-buck, as well as the potential pitfalls.   British troops are showing partnership in action...

Donald Trump wants NATO members to spend 5% of their national income on Defence, the UK is years away from meeting half that target.   Is 5% a realistic figure, given that we did it back in the cold war, or would that simply be spending money for the sake of it?  Mike does some reality checking, and Kate talks to Labour MP Luke Akehurst who says the current UK ambition of 2.5% should “ju...

The defence secretary John Healey sends a message to Russia’s President Putin warning him we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country. It’s after a Russian spy ship is spotted for a second time in UK waters. On Sitrep, we discuss the creeping threat of hybrid warfare. Why is the US preparing for potential conflict with China by 2027? Professor of War & Strategy in East Asia...

The Ministry Of Defence is given a stark warning that it needs to play catch-up and should learn from Ukraine’s use of AI on the battlefield. So what is Ukraine using? What happens if Britain doesn’t get a grip? And what could that mean for our troops on the battlefield? Sitrep’s Ukraine reporter Simon Newton and Assistant Director of the defence team at Rand Europe, James Black, discuss...

After a string of attacks against European data and power cables, and undersea pipelines, the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force has activated a new AI powered system to track and monitor suspicious activity from Russian “shadow fleet” ships. But what can the Nordic Warden operation do to stop attacks from happening when something is spotted?  Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe explain...