Committee to question Chief of the Defence Staff on UK Defence capabilities
After a series of sessions focusing on the challenges and opportunities set out by the 2021 Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper, in this session the Committee will take a broader look at the implications of these two documents for UK defence.
In the first panel, the Committee will question Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, on his priorities and expectations for UK defence. In the second panel, the Committee will question former Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff Air Marshal Edward Stringer on his perspective, especially in light of his experience as Director-General of Joint Force Development.
Meeting details
At 10.30am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
Defence concepts and capabilities: from aspiration to reality
Chief of the Defence Staff
At 11.30am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
Defence concepts and capabilities: from aspiration to reality
Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (2015-18), Director-General of Joint Force Development (2018-21)
Possible Questions:
- What are your main priorities during your tenure as the Chief of the Defence Staff? How do these priorities align with the objectives set out by the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper?
- The Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper outline a very ambitious agenda. Do you believe that all of the objectives are achievable, or is there a need to prioritise some over others? If so, which objectives or ambitions would you drop?
- Do you think that the bet made by the Defence Command Paper to focus on new technologies and threats below the threshold of war, rather than mass and conventional warfare, should be revised in light of the war in Ukraine?
- What is your assessment of the suitability of the current culture, structures and processes of the Ministry of Defence to deliver on the ambitions outlined in the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper?
- What is your assessment of the process of translating research and innovation into military and defence capability?What improvements or changes are needed if any, to best enable the UK’s research base to facilitate national security goals?