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I think our government would be more likely to pick its battle with say the Bahamas rather than China.
Sunny places are better to go to anyway.
British Military Current Events
- Thread starter daftandbarmy
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Sunny places are better to go to anyway.
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If you can think in the long term and big picture then yes they are. If you live for the moment and let every provocation get under your skin then no they're not.
One needs to learn what fights to pick and how to pick them when one works at that level.
Chinese Gordon and the telegraph caused the 1884-85 Nile Expedition to relieve him at Khartoum.
Now everybody is Chinese Gordon.
Everybody wants everybody relieved.
We are only a middle power, if that, but regardless when a country subjects a citizen of Canada to abuse or illegal incarceration that country should do so with the certain knowledge that it will not be business as usual with Canada until the situation is rectified and yes, it may cost Canada initially but at the moment we are the laughing stock of the G20. We use pencils to draw our red lines
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What do other "middle power" countries do differently than Canada when their citizens are "illegally incarcerated" that make us the "laughing stock of the G20"? Or even great power countries? The superpowers are a differently kettle of fish, at least one of them currently being the most often accused "state hostage taker" or incarcerator. A quick google of other countries' nationals who have been incarcerated on specious(?) grounds in other countries seemingly indicates that most do much the same as Canada - diplomacy - and with about the same results. I did find this 2023 report that discusses the situation; Canada (specifically the Two Michaels) is prominently featured.
THE SOUFAN CENTER SPECIAL REPORT
CITIZENS FOR LEVERAGE:
Navigating State Hostage-Taking in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
What did catch my attention in the report:
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The Brits have nukes and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and a written agreement with the Chinese and it isn't doing Jimmy Lai any good.
Mr. Lai is a British Citizen and resident of Hong Kong with strong political and economic connections. And he sits in the same penal system that held the two Michaels.
Jimmy Lai - Wikipedia
Thucydides Melian Dialogue seems to have become quite popular recently
"the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must,"
....
Best advice? If you are going abroad be prepared to live by local laws, or don't go.
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Meanwhile, on a more productive British front - Project Rapstone
"the programme is focused on rapidly fielding systems designed to improve the Army’s ability to fight in a more contested environment, with particular emphasis on drones, counter-drone measures, electronic warfare and improved digital command-and-control tools."
“RAPSTONE is an Army initiative to accelerate the fielding of new capabilities into the British Army,” Pollard said.
He added that these include:
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
...
Maybe the real value of a war is that the lack of time, and the lack of money, forces you to look at doing the other thing.
Instead of completing those battleships that have been building for the last fifteen years perhaps it is just as well the money is spent on Sea Spitfires instead.
"the programme is focused on rapidly fielding systems designed to improve the Army’s ability to fight in a more contested environment, with particular emphasis on drones, counter-drone measures, electronic warfare and improved digital command-and-control tools."
“RAPSTONE is an Army initiative to accelerate the fielding of new capabilities into the British Army,” Pollard said.
He added that these include:
- “Tactical uncrewed airborne systems (UAS) – short and medium range tactical drones.”
- “Systems to detect, track and counter UAS at the tactical level.”
- “Medium range loitering munitions.”
- “Uncrewed ground vehicles for last-mile resupply of tactical units.”
- “Electronic warfare (EW) systems for specialist and generalist users.”
- “Dispersed digital sensor systems to enhance the intelligence capability of tactical units.”
- “Enhanced counter UAS protection for vehicles.”
- “Utility vehicles for tactical units (4×4 pick-ups and vans).”
- “Hybrid power supplies for tactical headquarters and deployed teams.”
- “Personal individual power packs.”
- “Digital tools for tactical logistic planning and enhanced deployed maintenance.”
- “Enhanced digital tools for fire control.”
- “Increased satellite communications capabilities for mobile tactical units.”
- “Develop dried blood plasma technology into a deployable medical capability.”
Army fast-tracks drones and loitering munitions via Rapstone
The Ministry of Defence has outlined a broad package of new battlefield capabilities being accelerated into service through Task Force Rapstone.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
...
Maybe the real value of a war is that the lack of time, and the lack of money, forces you to look at doing the other thing.
Instead of completing those battleships that have been building for the last fifteen years perhaps it is just as well the money is spent on Sea Spitfires instead.
daftandbarmy
Army.ca Fossil
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The Brits have nukes and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and a written agreement with the Chinese and it isn't doing Jimmy Lai any good.
Mr. Lai is a British Citizen and resident of Hong Kong with strong political and economic connections. And he sits in the same penal system that held the two Michaels.
Jimmy Lai - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Thucydides Melian Dialogue seems to have become quite popular recently
"the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must,"
....
Best advice? If you are going abroad be prepared to live by local laws, or don't go.
It’s important to note that when using that quote from Thucydides, he was referring to the destructive intertribal dynamic that destroyed a thriving civilization through the suicidal Peloponnesian Wars. It’s not a good thing.
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A note of caution to all who think Carney is the cat's pJ's and believe business with China is a wonderful idea. The quote is from Terry Glavin but the information he states comes from outside sources.
Forging ahead with Justin Trudeau’s ‘post-national state’
From the National Post today: A disturbing new investigation detailing the expansion of Beijing’s overseas influence infrastructure reveals there are now more than 2,000 organizations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany that the Chinese Communist Party is capable of mobilizing to advance its agenda.The report is Harnessing the People: Mapping Overseas United Front Work in Democratic States. It locates 575 organizations in Canada embedded in eight separate fields of “soft power” opportunity consisting of 182 identity-based organizations, 109 business and trade associations, 97 educational and student organizations, 76 cultural and “friendship” associations, 42 professional organizations, 18 organizations focused on political parties and policy and 51 media platforms of various kinds.
They are all functions of the United Front Work Department, usually through direct affiliation with the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and their associations with the UFWD’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, which is run out of Beijing’s massive embassy in Ottawa and Beijing’s consulates in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
daftandbarmy
Army.ca Fossil
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Deploy the panoply!
British Army splashes $86M on AI gear to speed up the battlefield kill chain
British soldiers are to get an array of AI-ready kit that should mean they don't have to wait to see the "whites of their eyes" before pulling the trigger.
The £86 million contract covers the Dismounted Data System (DDS). According to an MoD statement, "the AI-capable equipment includes radios, headsets, display tablets, cables, batteries, pouches, and antennas."
This will deliver both voice and visual data, thereby "maximizing effectiveness across all battlefield situations."
The MoD said this digital panoply means troops will receive "precise information on surroundings and intelligence, meaning increased clarity on who are enemies and who are comrades."
The kit was already trialed in Estonia as part of the MoD's Project ASGARD. This week's statement said the "visual information element" allowed "soldiers to be less distracted by loud noises on the battlefield."
According to a statement last year, the DDS "harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative communication technologies, allowing battlefield decisions that once took hours to now be made in minutes."
Around the same time, the Army said "ASGARD uses artificial intelligence and secure communications to help soldiers make faster decisions about targets, saving crucial time in combat."
www.theregister.com
British Army splashes $86M on AI gear to speed up the battlefield kill chain
British soldiers are to get an array of AI-ready kit that should mean they don't have to wait to see the "whites of their eyes" before pulling the trigger.
The £86 million contract covers the Dismounted Data System (DDS). According to an MoD statement, "the AI-capable equipment includes radios, headsets, display tablets, cables, batteries, pouches, and antennas."
This will deliver both voice and visual data, thereby "maximizing effectiveness across all battlefield situations."
The MoD said this digital panoply means troops will receive "precise information on surroundings and intelligence, meaning increased clarity on who are enemies and who are comrades."
The kit was already trialed in Estonia as part of the MoD's Project ASGARD. This week's statement said the "visual information element" allowed "soldiers to be less distracted by loud noises on the battlefield."
According to a statement last year, the DDS "harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative communication technologies, allowing battlefield decisions that once took hours to now be made in minutes."
Around the same time, the Army said "ASGARD uses artificial intelligence and secure communications to help soldiers make faster decisions about targets, saving crucial time in combat."
British Army rolls out £86M AI-ready battlefield gear
: Troops fitted with new comms kit as part of Project ASGARD
www.theregister.com
daftandbarmy
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Am I the only one that noticed not a lot of women at the tables? Not saying that's bad, like Jake and Elwood sang "Everybody needs somebody to love"...just interesting...
daftandbarmy
Army.ca Fossil
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Artificial intelligence (which created the scene) is a lot like artificial love, most of the time it's done alone while in front of a computer screen.
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So much like military intelligence, there isn't much in the artificial version?
daftandbarmy
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Coincidentally they did the same thing just before the Falklands War when, you know, an airborne brigade capable of fast, long range/ strategic deployment would have been pretty useful.
Immediately Post-Falklands, they dramatically increased their capability to a large Airborne Brigade, spearheaded by two in-role parachute assault battalions, supported by a healthy air landing component of additional infantry and other units.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the UK’s airborne parachute capability will be retained but narrowed in scope, with future capacity focused on specialist forces and a single battalion group.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 16 February 2026, minister Al Carns said the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) “considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities” and concluded that “airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group.”
The response was issued after Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked what assessment had been made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability. Carns said the government had accepted the SDR’s recommendations in full and that implementation details would be outlined in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the UK’s airborne parachute capability will be retained but narrowed in scope, with future capacity focused on specialist forces and a single battalion group.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 16 February 2026, minister Al Carns said the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) “considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities” and concluded that “airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group.”
The response was issued after Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked what assessment had been made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability. Carns said the government had accepted the SDR’s recommendations in full and that implementation details would be outlined in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
Immediately Post-Falklands, they dramatically increased their capability to a large Airborne Brigade, spearheaded by two in-role parachute assault battalions, supported by a healthy air landing component of additional infantry and other units.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the UK’s airborne parachute capability will be retained but narrowed in scope, with future capacity focused on specialist forces and a single battalion group.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 16 February 2026, minister Al Carns said the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) “considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities” and concluded that “airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group.”
The response was issued after Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked what assessment had been made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability. Carns said the government had accepted the SDR’s recommendations in full and that implementation details would be outlined in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the UK’s airborne parachute capability will be retained but narrowed in scope, with future capacity focused on specialist forces and a single battalion group.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 16 February 2026, minister Al Carns said the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) “considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities” and concluded that “airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group.”
The response was issued after Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked what assessment had been made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability. Carns said the government had accepted the SDR’s recommendations in full and that implementation details would be outlined in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
UK confirms parachute force to be cut to one battalion
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that UK airborne parachute capability will be retained but concentrated into specialist units and a single battalion group, following recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
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Coincidentally they did the same thing just before the Falklands War when, you know, an airborne brigade capable of fast, long range/ strategic deployment would have been pretty useful.
Immediately Post-Falklands, they dramatically increased their capability to a large Airborne Brigade, spearheaded by two in-role parachute assault battalions, supported by a healthy air landing component of additional infantry and other units.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the UK’s airborne parachute capability will be retained but narrowed in scope, with future capacity focused on specialist forces and a single battalion group.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 16 February 2026, minister Al Carns said the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) “considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities” and concluded that “airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group.”
The response was issued after Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked what assessment had been made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability. Carns said the government had accepted the SDR’s recommendations in full and that implementation details would be outlined in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the UK’s airborne parachute capability will be retained but narrowed in scope, with future capacity focused on specialist forces and a single battalion group.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 16 February 2026, minister Al Carns said the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) “considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities” and concluded that “airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group.”
The response was issued after Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty asked what assessment had been made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability. Carns said the government had accepted the SDR’s recommendations in full and that implementation details would be outlined in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
UK confirms parachute force to be cut to one battalion
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that UK airborne parachute capability will be retained but concentrated into specialist units and a single battalion group, following recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review.
Doesn't retention of a battle group capability require 2 parachutable battalions plus a bunch of reserve companies?
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Somebody should tell Starmer the way Attlee solved the unemployment crisis after the war was to keep everyone in uniform.
daftandbarmy
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I'm assuming that one 'in-role' battalion will be relieved by another in the usual routine of maintaining operational readiness.
As 1 PARA is permanently assigned to SF support, this will be a 2 and 3 PARA tag team of sorts. I assume temporary postings from 4 PARA (Reserve) will also help round out the manning.
I'll assume the 'in role' unit will do the job for a couple of years, and then hand over to the other. It doesn't take too long to come up to speed as long as all the troops are parachute trained before you start.
The trickier and more expensive aspect of Airborne readiness, as always, is making sure that the RAF air assets are good to go, and that the support elements - Pathfinder, Engr, Arty, Med, Sigs etc - are all properly staffed up and trained too.
There's also a need to make sure that any airborne assault 'package' is properly protected by fighter support etc, and can be sustained in austere environments (your average developing country for example) for a long time. This can be a huge mainly RAF led logistics commitment which, I assume, is why they want to ditch the role altogether to save costs.
But a battle group is pretty small beer when you're talking strategic deployments. A Brigade Group is usually the smallest independent unit that can be deployed for any meaningful period of time.
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