Britain’s armed forces in 2030 will probably look much as they have for the past 50 years, at least in their overall shape and structure. They will be a small prof-|essional force with separate naval, ground and air arms, using a mixture of high technology and well-trained manpower to achieve their goals. They will be able to be deployed both at home, to deal with domestic security or natural hazards, and abroad, to support the UK’s international alliances or intervene in foreign conflicts. They will normally work as part of an alliance or coalition, with the United States by far their most important partner. They are also likely to possess nuclear weapons.
Women warriors and war games
Future forces will be high-tech and much more compact, although Brexit may curb their deployment, writes James de Waal
