The UK military has launched a week-long simulation of a full-scale conflict to assess its ability to carry out combat missions despite anticipated supply chain disruptions.
The exercise, which began on Monday, includes “a range of possible scenarios” in a major conflict, including intense fighting and persistent logistical challenges.
For the first time, defense industry representatives are taking part to “stress-test” their ability to quickly deliver supplies in the face of hostile attempts to disrupt logistics.
Among the companies involved are BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, and Babcock.
According to UK Defense Secretary John Healey, the war game featuring key weapons suppliers will help create a resilient supply chain and ensure that the defense industry can innovate at wartime speed.
In 2021, British soldiers participated in a similar simulation, but they ran out of ammunition even before the 10-day exercise was completed.
Focus on Artillery and Drones
This week’s exercise will focus on supply chains for artillery munitions and drones, which are heavily used in the Ukraine conflict.
The UK military estimates that thousands of these defense assets are used weekly, rapidly depleting their supplies.
The simulation will identify potential vulnerabilities in the production and transport of these weapons to the frontlines, which are expected to face intense attacks.
Feedback from the exercise will inform future decisions and strategies for real-world conflict scenarios.
‘Unfit for War’
Earlier this year, a UK defense committee hearing revealed critical gaps in the country’s defense capabilities, warning that the military could be exhausted after just two months of high-intensity warfare.
Ongoing recruitment challenges and stockpile shortages have raised concerns that Britain is “unfit for war” unless it addresses persistent issues impacting its warfighting resilience.
In January, former Chief of the General Staff Patrick Sanders noted that the UK military is “too small” to survive a war of Ukraine’s scale.
