Spot on. Any 'new' funding for defence must prioritise recruitment, and above all retention, of Armed Forces personnel.

That means:
✅Significant pay rises
✅Further retention bonuses
✅Improve pension offer
✅Investment in accommodation (and reforming its management)
✅Reform

MoD RoRo AW Ship Management MV Hartland Point inbound to Devonport this morning - passing 🇳🇱HNLMS De Ruyter at anchor.

Via Kevin Kelway, BCAc

More details emerge about 🇹🇷Turkey's plan to build 60,000 tonne STOBAR aircraft carrier.

CODAG propulsion, Ski ramp capable of operating 50 aircraft, including Hurjet (small jet) and Anka-3 & Kızılelma (UCAVs) and Bayraktar TB3 (MALE).

H/t Tugay Er

Golden hour...

RFA Proteus at anchor in Plymouth Sound yesterday evening

Via RFANostalgia

Defence Minister James Cartlidge MP 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 refuses to confirm if HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll will ever go back to sea Luke Pollard MP

'I am committed to looking at the future of the Surface Fleet in the round and making tough but necessary decisions to ensure this transition is a success.'

.RFA Proteus outbound from Devonport this evening with HMS St Albans at anchor in Plymouth Sound and HMS Cattistock south of the Breakwater.

Via Kevin Kelway, BCAc

.Babcock International awarded contract to manage the Type 23 class frigate Refit Support Group so the company takes end-to-end responsibility for vessel upkeep and regeneration - releasing RN personnel.

This model already used to deliver HMS St Albans to sea three months ahead of

We've been busy working with our partners from Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji, Republic of Fiji Navy and Royal NZ Navy to help counter Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing 🐟

Having boarded more than 20 vessels since beginning this type of tasking, our presence is already widely felt in the area 🇬🇧 🇫🇯 🇳🇿

Sad to report body found in the water on Sunday off Helensburgh identified as sailor Josh Gayton who went missing on 16th April.

GoFundMe campaign to help Josh's mother and sister.
gofundme.com/f/raising-fund…

Positive news. The number of trained RN Marine Engineers (MEs) is set to rise substantially (up about 13%) in the next year.

theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2024…

🇳🇱HNLMS De Ruyter in and out of Plymouth Sound yesterday for boat transfer.

Via Tomleachphotography

.BMT has signed MoU with DNV - Maritime to develop a version of their Caimen (large) design for the 🇦🇺Australian Army future Landing Craft – Heavy (LC-H) competition.

🇫🇷FS Charles De Gaulle carrier strike group sailed yesterday on 'Akila' deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Besides CVN, the group comprise 1 x destroyer, 1 x frigate, 1 x SSN and 1 tanker plus other NATO warships - No RN participation planned.

Airgroup includes 18 x

🇩🇪Germany tells 🇬🇧Britain to increase defence spending...

politico.eu/article/rishi-…

.Rishi Sunak announces UK to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.

Currently spending just over 2%. (£54.8Bn) 2023-24.

2.5% of 2023 GDP (should grow in future) would amount to £67.25Bn

Tax rises, borrowing or cuts elsewhere? - over to you Kier...

.HMS St Albans at anchor in Plymouth Sound this morning.

Via Kevin Kelway, BCAc