The United Kingdom possesses no overarching strategy to defend the nation in the event of a major conflict, the head of the armed forces has starkly admitted. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton also confirmed there is no plan to mobilise the National Health Service to cope with mass casualties should all-out war erupt in Europe.
No Modern War Book for a Dangerous Era
In a revealing session with the defence select committee on Monday 12 January 2026, the Chief of the Defence Staff disclosed that the UK has failed to revive a modern equivalent of the historic Government War Book. This comprehensive set of plans, which detailed the nation's transition from peace to war across all sectors from the military to hospitals, was maintained until the end of the Cold War but was subsequently shelved.
Despite the stark re-emergence of conflict in Europe following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and its initial incursion in 2014, this critical planning document has not been updated. "We don't have a complete national defence plan yet," Air Chief Marshal Knighton told MPs. When asked if one was needed, he responded: "Yeah, absolutely. And the government is committed to doing that."
Funding Shortfalls and Strategic Gaps
The admission comes against a backdrop of severe budgetary pressures within the Ministry of Defence. While avoiding the term "cuts", Sir Richard confirmed the MoD lacks the funding to deliver both its existing equipment programme and the additional ambitions outlined in the government's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) published in June.
"If we wanted to do everything that's currently in the programme and do all the extra things in the SDR, could we do that with the budget that we've got? The answer is no," he stated. He was pressed on reports of a £28 billion budget shortfall over the next four years but declined to confirm the specific figure.
The defence chief attributed the lack of a national plan to the long-standing "peace dividend" enjoyed since the Cold War's end, stating successive governments had not prioritised such contingency planning.
NHS Unprepared for Wartime Casualties
One of the most concerning revelations was the absence of a scheme to utilise the UK's civilian healthcare system in a major war. Air Chief Marshal Knighton confirmed there is no holistic plan to mobilise NHS doctors, nurses, or hospitals to treat military and civilian wounded, which would place immense strain on the already struggling health service.
"We don't have a holistic, national plan for how we would mobilise the National Health Service in times of all-out war in Europe," he said. He indicated that the Cabinet Office, which oversees this cross-government work, should produce more details within the next 12 to 18 months.
The military component of a new defence plan, for which the MoD is responsible, is expected to be finalised within the current year. This gap in national preparedness exists despite the UK's NATO obligations, which require all member states to maintain defence plans and be capable of self-defence.
