UK must 'take more risk' to stay ahead of its enemies, head of Royal Navy says

The head of the Royal Navy has said Britain must "take more risk" to stay ahead of its enemies and maintaining the status quo is "simply not good enough".

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said that he was determined to leave the navy "much stronger than the one I inherited" by 2029.

He told the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on Wednesday that standing still "is not an option", adding that "just maintaining the capable status quo is simply not good enough", especially since Russia's "egregious, full-blown invasion of Ukraine" in 2022.

"That rallying call has only grown louder with the geopolitical developments of the last four years, including in the Middle East."

He said sea power is vital "if we are to maintain the free flow of trade, uphold freedom of navigation, deter our adversaries and safeguard Britain's economy against the kind of global shocks we have been experiencing".

Its significance has been underlined by the US-Israel war on Iran and, "in particular, the shutting of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran".

Key to the Navy's plan is the idea of a "hybrid" force - made up of both crewed ships and drones and other "cutting-edge" technology, he said.

Part of this will require "investing in the way we train" so personnel can hone their warfighting skills in "complex, high-threat battle scenarios, much of which can only be practised through simulation", Sir Gwyn said.

He said: "It's not about replacing existing capabilities. It is about increasing the survivability and lethality of our force.

"We must end the mentality that we need ever more expensive and ever larger platforms."

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The government has committed to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence by 2027, increasing to 3% in the next parliament and a NATO-agreed target of 3.5% by 2035, though critics have called on it to go further and to publish its long-delayed defence investment plan.

Sir Gwyn added: "We must not only invest in the technologies of the future, we must change our entire mindset if we are to stay ahead of our enemies.

"That requires us take more risk, to ruthlessly remove unnecessary regulations and other barriers holding us back so that we can cut the time it takes between trialling new systems and putting them to sea or alongside our commanders.

"It requires courage and getting used to failing occasionally in order that we succeed more often."

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