Join Glenn Manton and The Nelson Twins; Chris and Justin as they tackle the big issues in Australian Rules Football, cutting through the noise and going head to head with the mainstream media.
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Ukraine’s big gamble in Russia – what happens next?
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Is this Chess, or Russian Roulette? Professor Michael Clarke explains why Ukraine has chosen a path with big risks, but also potentially big rewards by taking the fight to Russia on its own turf in Kursk. Sitrep’s Simon Newton analyses the forces and movements of each side as we assess how this could develop and affect the war. 75 years since the G…
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Sitrep’s looking into the role of the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, after reports of fierce fighting in the West African country of Mali and asking why this conflict has caused a diplomatic row between Mali and Ukraine? And where is the balance between the needs of the military and the needs of the media? Sitrep will discuss that with the former…
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The armed forces pay rise – what’s it really worth?
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Most servicemen and women are getting a 6% pay rise, twice the rate of inflation. The government says it’s the biggest increase for more than 20 years. But in real terms pay has been falling for a decade, and satisfaction with it is at a record low. Sitrep talks to the Defence Veterans and People Minister, Alistair Carns, to ask whether it’s really…
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The new head of the Army has warned the UK has three years to be ready to fight a war or deter conflict. General Sir Roly Walker’s talked about an “increasingly volatile world” but he said war wasn’t inevitable and the Army had "just enough time" to prepare itself. He says he wants to double the Army's fighting power in three years (and triple it b…
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Why have outside experts been put in charge of the UK’s Defence Review?
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From where the armed forces are deployed around the world, to the kit they have for the job, and how they’re looked after, the government has launched a “root and branch” defence review. Two people who’ve been hands on with past reviews, Lieutenant General Sir Nick Pope and Sitrep’s Professor Michael Clarke, explain what will be different about thi…
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“Don’t be Jack” -- the veterans who’ve become MPs
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Around one in twenty of the UK’s MPs have military experience, but what do they bring to the job and does it help them make a difference? Sitrep talks to the new MP for Derbyshire North, Louise Jones, and Jonny Ball who hosts the Veterans in Politics podcast and has mentored several of the new intake to Parliament. India’s Prime Minister claims to …
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EXTRA - The Allied Reaction Force (and Britain’s role) explained
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The Allied Reaction Force is the new “tip of the spear” for NATO’s military power. It’s described as a strategic, high-readiness, force-generated, multi-domain and multinational capability. The ARF replaces the NATO Response Force and Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), as part of a radical update of military structures and plans since the…
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Defending Europe – what does NATO need to do?
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75 years since NATO was created to defend Europe, Sitrep asks what’s needed to do that job properly today. From organising hundreds of thousands of troops, to digging ditches and ensuring bridges can carry tanks, the challenges are explained by Professor Michael Clarke and Oana Lungescu, a former senior advisor to the NATO Secretary General. Part o…
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Two Royal Navy minehunters, given to Ukraine last year, are still in UK waters because they can’t get into the Black Sea while the war continues. But Ukraine’s Navy is using them to prepare for when they can start clearing the hundreds of explosives lying on the sea-bed. Sitrep’s Simon Newton has been watching some of that work on Exercise Sea Bree…
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Who’s promising what for the Armed Forces?
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Sitrep analyses the main party manifestos for the general election in which defence has had its highest profile in decades. AI and data collection are promised to bring a revolution to military capability. But they could also make it harder to work with partners and allies by creating a new “language barrier”, so how do we avoid that? And the 2am p…
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While North Korea sends hundreds of balloons, loaded with rubbish and manure, across the border, South Korea is setting up giant speakers to blare K-pop music for miles into the North. Sitrep assess the risk of a playground scrap going out of control, and explains why many heavily armed nations indulge in childish tactics when they don’t want an al…
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From the wooden horse at Troy to rubber tanks in Dover military deceptions have been central to war for thousands of years. In the lead up to D-Day the allies convinced Germany their assault would be 150 miles away from Normandy. Professor Michael Clarke and Sitrep’s Claire Sadler explain the complex web of deceptions involving radar interference, …
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Presidents and Prime Ministers have big decisions to make in Washington about how to better defend Europe, deter Russia, and support Ukraine. But how does it work behind closed doors, away from the choreographed photo ops, and who is actually making the decisions? Lord Peter Ricketts, former UK Ambassador to NATO, lifts the lid on how some of the w…
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Russia has the momentum in Ukraine right now, so is it time for a radical rethink of how we help? James Heappey, who served four years as Armed Forces Minister, tells Sitrep we should be thinking about putting a training mission into Western Ukraine along with air defence support. Professor Michael Clarke explains the potential risks and benefits o…
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For more than half a century the C-130 Hercules was the backbone of the RAF. It’s played a key role in daring special forces and counter terror mission, supported combat operations from the Falklands to Afghanistan, delivered disaster relief, and carried out evacuations in some of the most challenging of environments. Named after the mythological G…
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Sitrep looks at the future shape of the Navy as the government talks of a new ‘golden era in shipbuilding’ and assesses what it can learn from current conflicts. Expert analysis from Commodore Steve Prest who’s just left the service and former Naval warfare officer Professor Peter Roberts from RUSI. Sitrep’s Simon Newton reports from Poland on Exer…
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The forces payroll hack – what you need to know
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The cyber-attack which potentially exposed names and bank details of more than 270-thousand people is certainly embarrassing, but what might a “malign actor” do with that information? The founding Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, Ciaran Martin, tells Sitrep the hackers haven’t got any “crown jewels”, but that statements of “no…
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Sitrep goes on board a Royal Navy P2000 patrol boat, on exercise Tamber Shield, off the coast of Norway. David Sivills-McCann gives us an insight into the action, and Professor Michael Clarke explains why these boats, some of the smallest Royal Navy vessels, are key to defending the UK. A prototype of the RAF’s next generation fighter jet, Tempest,…
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EXTRA – Tempest, turning sci-fi concepts into flying reality
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Tempest will be the RAF’s next generation fighter jet, and the heart of the new Future Combat Air System. After a decade of conceptual development work is now underway to turn it into reality, with a first prototype due to fly in around 3 years. Will it really be equipped with laser weapons or brain scanners in the pilot’s helmet? That’s still secr…
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The PM’s defence spending spree – what’s it really worth?
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Rishi Sunak has pledged tens of billions of pounds to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030, but how much will it improve our military capability? Professor Michael Clarke explains why the extra cash will probably be used to firm up our forces rather than making them bigger, and we fact check how much of the £75bn figure given by the Prime Minister …
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How did the RAF support Israel when it was attacked by Iran?
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RAF Typhoons fired in defence of Israel as part of a multi-national operation to stop Iran’s onslaught with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. A former fighter pilot tells Sitrep about the threats posed to pilots. The Armed Forces put a lot of effort into leadership training. But what about the other side of the coin – followers? The C…
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EXTRA – What is followership, and how could it change the Army?
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The Armed Forces put a lot of effort into leadership training, but have they lost sight of the people who are led? The Army’s been researching the concept of followership, how it could benefit the service become part of its culture. But what is followership, is it really different from the results of good leadership, and can it be part of an organi…
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Can ‘broken’ defence procurement be fixed?
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Defence Procurement minister James Cartlidge tells Sitrep the history of armed forces having “kit that let them down” keeps him awake at night. But he has a plan to fix the problems. He tells Kate Gerbeau about the changes aimed at delivering equipment on time, and on budget, while Professor Michael Clarke assesses whether it will give troops what …
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EXTRA – Minister explains new shake-up for buying military hardware
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British servicemen and women rely on having the right kit to do their jobs, and protect their lives at the front line, but MPs says the process of buying that equipment is broken. Sitrep talks to Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge about his new plan to fix long delays, multi-billion pound overspends, and hopelessly overoptimistic ideas. A…
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Troops and hardware which Russia’s been holding in reserve have been moved to the 600-mile-long front line, and handful of local armoured offensives point to the start of a wider push. Sitrep’s Professor Michael Clarke explains how Moscow wants to exploit Ukraine’s ammunition shortages, while Kyiv tries to keep the initiative by forcing Russia’s ha…
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Sitrep hears from Kupiansk, celebrated as a significant victory when it was liberated a year and a half ago, but in Russian sights once again as Moscow tries a new push forward. Ukraine’s troops trying to hold firm are hampered by artillery shortages, they’ve been rationing shells for months, but have turned to small drones to fill at least some of…
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The new Wider Service Medal – good or bad idea?
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From submariners at sea for months at a time, to soldiers living and working on Russia’s doorstep, the new Wider Service Medal is intended to recognise “crucial operational impact” without the risks to life faced in combat. Some say it’s long overdue, others call it a medal for “just turning up”. We ask a former head of the Army, General Lord Danna…
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Inside the Navy’s ‘999 centre’ for the Red Sea
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Emergency calls from any vessel under attack in the Red Sea are handled thousands of miles away, in Portsmouth, by a Royal Navy supported control centre. Sitrep’s Tim Cooper is one of the first ever journalists to visit the UKMTO, where calls have soared by 475% as missile and drone attacks from Yemen are launched on average once every two days. Al…
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Wargaming is about as old as war itself, but in a time many describe as “pre-war” how can it help us be ready for the worst, if it happens? Sitrep talks to the UK’s Assistant Head of Defence Wargaming, Captain Eugene Morgan, who’s charged with building British wargaming capacity and capability “to make better decisions for defence” He explains how …
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Germany’s embarrassing leak – could it happen to us too?
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Russia has published the recording of a meeting between senior German air-force officers, revealing military and political secrets about British, French and German support to Ukraine. Former Army intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram tells Sitrep it comes down to people being the weakest link, and that we shouldn’t dismiss it as “just a German…
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Extra – The world’s only female Chief of Defence Staff
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Every single country in the world allows women to serve in at least some military roles, but only one has a woman at the very top of its Armed Forces. Jamaica’s Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, was appointed in 2022 and is only the second woman in history to hold such a role (Slovenia appointed a female chief of defence…
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Six NATO submarines, accompanied by ships and aircraft, are playing a giant military game of hide and seek in the Mediterranean. NATO’s Commander Submarines, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Wall, tells us more about exercise Dynamic Manta, and Sitrep’s Claire Sadler explains what life is like onboard one of those subs. Vladimir Putin claims Russia no…
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Britain has spent seven billion pounds over the last two years, equipping Ukraine’s armed forces to help keep them in the fight against Russia. On the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion Sitrep talks to Major General Anna-Lee Reilly and Andy Start from Defence Equipment and Support about how that’s been done, and what lies ahead. Denmark’…
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EXTRA – Can we rely on the Trident nuclear deterrent?
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For the second time in a row a Royal Navy test firing of an unarmed Trident missile has ended in failure. The government says it was an “anomaly” and that it has “absolute confidence” in the nuclear deterrent, but it hasn’t explained why the missile failed. It’s called the ultimate insurance policy, but can it still deter Russia after two very publ…
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Trump-proofing Europe – could it win a war without US help?
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Donald Trump’s talk of telling President Putin to “do whatever the hell he wants” to NATO allies who “don’t pay” has been called unhinged, but he could be President again. So Sitrep examines if Europe could defend itself against Russia without American support, if it really came to that. Professor Michael Clarke and Simon Newton explain how Europea…
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Inside the secret world of Defence Intelligence
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Sitrep gets unprecedented access to the heart of the UK’s military spying operation. Sian Grzeszczyk tells all, including the crashed Russian drones being disassembled by Defence Intelligence, how its analysts uncovered an arms-for-horses deal between Moscow and North Korea, and why it really does all look like a James Bond lair. As MP’s say we mus…
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Could National Service fix the forces recruitment crisis?
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Boris Johnson has called for the UK to bring back National Service. Sweden did just that seven years ago to solve its military recruitment crisis, and Germany’s looking at the idea. Sitrep talks to Swedish defence expert Elisabeth Braw and former Welsh Guards officer Nicholas Drummond about whether it’s the answer for the UK’s depleted Armed Forces…
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Strategic command, like the three single services, is deemed important enough to our defence to merit its own Chief of Staff. General Sir James Hockenhull tells Sitrep about the organisation that he leads and its mission to help the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force be the best they can be. From medical services to digital networks, cyber to int…
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Tens of thousands of people around the world have seen the moment one Royal Navy minehunter reversed into another in Bahrain, doing millions of pounds worth of damage. Former Royal Navy Commodore Alistair Halliday talks us through the range of technical and human factors which could explain why HMS Chiddingfold went backwards instead of ahead. The …
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EXTRA – Sir Iain Duncan Smith on China, conscription and his own time in the Army.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith has been a Conservative MP for more than 30 years, and led his party from 2001 to 2003. In parliament he’s a vocal contributor on defence, security, and international issues. His criticism of China’s government is so vocal the country has placed sanctions against him and his family. He tells Sitrep why he believes China is a t…
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The Defence Secretary warns of tough times ahead...we look at those warnings but also hear from another of Britain’s most senior military chiefs who has a more hopeful message. The Head of Stratcom rarely speaks to the media, but we hear his take on the state of the world. Also on Sitrep Is diplomacy still a thing? Does it achieve anything? We spea…
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New questions about the future of the Royal Marines.
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The First Sea Lord has been asked for a plan to “take forward” the work of the Royal Marines, as ministers effectively confirm they’re again reconsidering the future of the corps’ two amphibious assault ships. Professor Michael Clarke explains what’s going on, and former Royal Marines Commandant General, Major General Buster Howes, tells Sitrep the…
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EXTRA - Life lessons from ‘The Perisher’ submarine command course.
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Under the sea, in charge of a multi-million pound boat, and the safety of your crew, there is a lot that can go very wrong. Ryan Ramsay has lived it all, then trained his successors both in how to avoid those disasters, and to cope if they do strike. In his new book ‘A View From Below’ he shares the inside story how submarine captains are trained, …
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Could more British troops be sent to Eastern Europe, or as peacekeepers in the Middle East? Will Donald Trump return to the White House, and would it guarantee defeat for Ukraine? And where in the world might the next war break out? Kate Gerbeau and Professor Michael Clarke take on the big questions about what’s in store for our defence and securit…
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To beard or not to beard? The Army’s big question.
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The Defence Secretary has called the Army’s ban on beards for most soldiers “ridiculous and outdated”, as the Chief of General Staff reviews the rules. Kate and Mike are joined by former Chief of Defence People, Lieutenant General James Swift, to discuss whether facial hair really matters to recruitment, discipline and operational effectiveness. Th…
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The UK increases its Middle East military presence – what can it do?
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HMS Diamond has been sent to the Red Sea after missile and drone attacks against British owned cargo vessels, and RAF spy-planes have been deployed to search for hostages held in Gaza. Professor Michael Clarke and former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe explain what these assets and personnel can achieve, the limitations & risks of their missions, a…
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Sitrep’s Simon Newton has just returned from Ukraine - he reports for Sitrep from a drone testing centre where new models are trialled before being used in combat. Sitrep also hears from the former Champion Boxer, and now Mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, on his country’s will to resist. Also on Sitrep, as tensions remain high in the Middle East, Br…
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Can Ukraine avoid being trapped in a frozen war?
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As winter sweeps across Ukraine the ideal window for its counter-offensive is now closed, with seemingly minimal gains from five months of hard fighting. So what happens next? Sitrep assesses whether Ukraine has another chance for a significant fightback next year, and if so how it could do that. Professor Michael Clarke, Ukrainian researcher Marii…
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EXTRA – The National Cyber Force explained
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Cyber-warfare was is no longer simply science-fiction, it is now a military fact that hits hard. Military communications, power systems and nuclear processing plants have all been taken offline in recent years by purely digital attacks. The UK’s capability for this domain sits in the National Cyber Force, created three years ago as part of Strategi…
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The Army’s future is built around the new Ajax armoured fighting vehicle. After years of delays, faults, and even injuries to troops, ministers say the Ajax programme is now ‘in recovery’. We take a look for ourselves, from the production line to training on Salisbury plain and hear from soldiers using the first of the vehicles. Another cold-war tr…
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