United Kingdom
Total Military Force
Active: 212,660
Reserves: 272,550
Army (116,670)
1 Land Command HQ, 3 Division HQs
1 Armored Division with 3 Armored Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 4 Engineering Brigades, 1 Aviation Brigade, 1 Advanced Deployment Brigade
1 Mechanized Division with 3 Mechanized Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 4 Engineering Brigades, 1 Advanced Deployment Regiment
1 Tri-Service Joint Helo Command incorporating 1 Air Assault Brigade
1 Artillery Brigade HQ, 1 Advanced Deployment Brigade HQ, 1 Reconnaissance Brigade HQ
2 Logistics Brigades, 14 Infantry Brigade HQ
Navy (42,370)
Commands: CINCFLEET (CINCEASTLANT and CINCNAVNORTHWEST), CINCNAVHOME,
Bases: Northwood, Davenport, Faslane, Portsmouth, Culdrose, Prestwick, Yeovilton, Overseas: Gilbratar
Air Force (53,620)
Flight Hours: Tornado 188, Harrier 218, Jaguar 215
Forces Abroad and Foreign Forces
Independent
Afghanistan: 3 CH-47 Helos
Antarctica: 1 Ice Patrol Ship (Summer Only)
Ascension Island: Royal Air Force (RAF) 23
Belgium: RAF 183
Belize: Army 30
Brunei: Army 1,120, 1 Gurkha Battalion, 3 Helo
Canada: Army 500, RAF 57
Cyprus: Army 2,110, 2 Infantry Battalions, 1 Engineering Squad, Royal Navy (RN) 25, RAF 750
Falkand Island: Army 450, RN 1 DDG, RAF 750
Germany: Army 22,000, 1 Corps HQ, 1 Armored Division
Gibraltar: Army 60, RN/Marines 235, RAF 105
Indian Ocean: RN 1 DDG/FFG,
Iraq: Army 11,000, 1 Division HQ, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Logistics Brigade
Kenya: Army 20
Kuwait: Army 3,000
Nepal: Army 63
Netherlands: RAF 120
Oman and Muscat: RAF 33
Sierra Lione: Army 100
USA: RAF 173
West Indies/West Africa: RN 1 DDG/FFG
Military Advisers: 458 in 26 countries.
UN
ISAF (Afghanistan): 300
SFOR II (Bosnia): 1,400
UNFICYP (Cyprus): 431
MONUC (Congo): 6
UNMEE (Ethiopia/Eritrea): 3 including 1 observer
UNOMIG (Georgia) 7 observers
UNOMSIL (Sierra Leone): 21 including 14 observers
KFOR (Serbia & Montenegro): 1,400
The following forces are currently stationed in the United Kingdom:
US: Army 180, Navy 1,220, Air Force 9,600, Marines 97
NATO: HQ Allied Naval Forces North, HQ East Atlantic, Combined Air Operations Centre
Strategic Force (1,000 active)
In order to remain a world nuclear power, Britain decided in 1945 to create a weapons programme with the aim of producing atomic bombs, using plutonium as the fissile material in the bombs. Until 1945, Britain had collaborated with the Americans but the latter passed an act in 1946 forbidding information on weapons being passed to another country. On 03 October 1952 the first British atomic test was carried out aboard a ship moored off the north west coast of Australia.
According to the July 1998 Strategic Defense Review [SDR], in current circumstances, nuclear forces continue to make a unique contribution to ensuring stability and preventing crisis escalation. They also help guard against any possible re-emergence of a strategic scale threat to British security. The Review confirmed that in a changing and uncertain world, Britain continues to require a credible and effective minimum nuclear deterrent based on the Trident submarine force. This has provided Britain's only nuclear system since the withdrawal of the last of the RAF's free-fall nuclear bombs earlier this year, performing both the strategic and sub-strategic role. Britain's Trident force provides an operationally independent strategic and sub-strategic nuclear capability in support of NATO's strategy of war prevention and as the ultimate guarantee of British national security.
For More Information See Links
| United Kingdom * |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
| GDP |
1.4tr |
1.6tr |
|
| Defense Exp |
34.9bn |
37.3bn |
|
| Defense Bdgt |
33.6bn |
36.6bn |
41. |
* All figures in US dollars.
Links:
European Union Specific Weapons Systems
The International Institute for Strategic Studies
United Kindom's Ministry of Defence
United Kingdom - World Navies Today
United Kingdom's Royal Air Force
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