UK Navy Chief Calls for Tech Investments and Risk-Taking in Response to Evolving Global Threats

Britain's First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins stated that the country must take more risks to stay ahead of its enemies, warning that maintaining the status quo is simply not good enough. In a speech at the Royal United Services Institute, he emphasized that the Royal Navy is at an inflection point, with threats having developed and evolved over the last decade, becoming irrefutable in 2022 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

GB News reported these details from the address.

Jenkins pointed to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war as demonstrating the vulnerability of traditional naval platforms. He added that the rallying call has grown louder with geopolitical developments of the last four years, including in the Middle East. The Navy chief plans to leave the Royal Navy much stronger than the one he inherited by 2029.

The key to the Navy’s plan, according to Jenkins, is a hybrid approach where both crewed ships and drones will work with other cutting-edge technology. He stressed that it’s not about replacing existing capabilities but about increasing the survivability and lethality of the force.

Jenkins also emphasized investing in the way personnel are trained so they can focus skills in complex, high-threat battle scenarios, much of which can only be practised through simulation.

Jenkins stated that the Navy must invest in the technologies of the future and change its entire mindset to stay ahead of enemies. Staying ahead requires taking more risk, ruthlessly removing unnecessary regulations and other barriers to cut the time between trialling new systems and putting them to sea or alongside commanders.

He warned that Russian incursions into British waters had jumped by almost a third in the last two years.

In 2025, the Royal Navy was required to respond dozens of times in support of homeland defence against Russian navy surface vessels, Jenkins said. Just maintaining the capable status quo is simply not good enough, he reiterated during the speech. GB News reported on these specific data points from the Navy chief.

Separately, at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer stated that the Government had increased defence spending to the highest since the Cold War. 3% of GDP.

Starmer added that the previous Tory administration’s own Secretary of State admitted they hollowed out the armed forces. 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2027. 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.