The new head of the Royal Air Force has warned now is the “most perilous” period of his 35-year military career. Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth warned the UK is facing “multiple and multiplying threats”, citing issues including the Ukraine war and a “status quo reset” in the Middle East.
In his first speech in his new role as Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Smyth said the “world has changed” as he stressed the UK must be ready to meet new challenges. The top military brass warned of new alliances forming and voiced particular concern over China and its increasingly advanced military. Speaking at the largest-ever DSEI arms fair in London, Air Chief Marshal Smyth said: “Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are all active in today’s battlespace, across all domains, especially the newer ones of space and cyber – learning, adapting, and collaborating.
“We should take note of the scenes of Xi [Jinping], [Vladimir] Putin, Kim Jong Un and [Masoud] Pezeshkian, together in Beijing last week, all watching, whilst China displayed its military might via a vast parade of goose stepping soldiers and new weapons, including the ‘Guam killer’ missile, loyal wingmen drones, and even robotic wolves.
“A clear message to the world — and also undoubtedly a sales pitch for new weapons, presenting a proliferation challenge which we must not ignore.”
In a stark warning, he added: “Our potential adversaries are not standing still — in fact, they are approaching a sprint, their military industrial complex is in full swing, and at time it often feels like ours is still in peace mode – therefore, there is much work to be done, and we cannot afford to squander the time we have.”
The RAF chief’s comments on Thursday came a day after NATO fighter jets shot down three Russian drones over Polish airspace, with Defence Secretary John Healey condemning the incursion as “reckless, unprecedented and dangerous”.
Other drones crashed and were later found across Poland, with NATO moving to strengthen its eastern flank.
“Ukraine is a stark reminder of what warfare becomes when neither side can gain effective control of the air: stalemate, trench warfare, and millions of lives lost,” said Air Chief Marshal Smyth.
The top officer also hailed Britain’s decision to buy F-35A fighter jets, capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, as set out in the Strategic Defence Review.
“I would expect potential adversaries to take note of this change.”
He said his ambition is to make the RAF “more agile, more integrated and more ready”.