Horror warning UK military now so weak ‘we’d struggle to defend the Falklands’ | UK | News
Under new plans, ex-service personnel up to the age of 65 could be called back into the army in the event of war or national crisis. Hawkes rejected the idea that veterans over the age of 55 could increase the military’s lethality in the event of war, and expressed concern about Argentina’s ability to fight as it once did following its invasion of sovereign territory. He told the Daily Express: “I don’t think people of that age would be physically fit for it.
“Maybe there are roles in the back echelons, but forget the idea that they might be capable of serving on the front lines.
“Military service is a young people’s game, especially war. The government should stop targeting 65-year-olds and embark on a major recruitment drive to attract young people.”
“We don’t have the strength to fight anymore. I’m not sure what we could do if we were faced with a situation like the Falkland Islands again.”
The Falklands task force, which set out to retake the region after the occupation of Argentine troops, consisted of two aircraft carriers, eight destroyers and 16 frigates.
Years of underinvestment have led to the hollowing out of the Royal Navy.
The force currently has only two aircraft carriers, six destroyers and 11 frigates, meaning it cannot create the ships it did in 1982.
The Royal Navy currently has around 17,100 sailors, down from more than 60,000 personnel during the war.
Ground forces were also significantly reduced; The British Army currently has just over 78,000 soldiers; That’s a tiny fraction of the 163,000 soldiers on duty as the British set out to repel the Argentines.
But a lack of equipment and personnel does not necessarily spell disaster for the Falkland Islands should Argentina attack again.
The gaps can be filled in part by modern technology, including drones and cyber- and space-based systems that the military now has at its disposal to fill gaps created in the 44 years since the war.
The Falkland Islands are also much better defended than they were until the Argentine invasion; MOD officials are aware of the threat posed by Buenos Aires.
