We Need to Talk About Defence

The organisation and management of defence has always exercised governments in many countries, being technically, militarily, financially , industrially and politically very challenging. The UK has, in the last generation or two found it especially difficult and, despite several reforms, has not done it very well. In We need to Talk about Defence Andrew Curtis has carried out a deep and penetrating analysis both of the way defence management has been carried out and has conducted a fascinating and informative comparative study with the practices of several other western nations. This, and his own considerable experience at senior level in the RAF, have enabled him to draw out important and highly relevant lessons for the UK. Those responsible for the overdue and vital overhaul of the UK’s defence management should pay very careful heed to his conclusions. * Vice Admiral (Retd) Sir Jeremy Blackham, former Deputy Chief of Defence Staff for Capability *For the first time since the end of the Cold War, defence is back on the national agenda – and with a vengeance since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Building better defence for the United Kingdom will take clarity as well as more money and commitment, and Andrew Curtis offers an excellent, clear-eyed view of what’s been wrong for so long with the way we ‘do’ defence in this country. His recommendations for reform should be an intrinsic part of the conversations our leaders need to have about defending ourselves more effectively in a darkening world. They ought to take his ideas seriously. * Michael Clarke, Visiting Professor of Defence Studies, King’s College London and Former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute. *

Dr Andrew R Curtis OBE is a Retired Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force, where he served for 35 years. He is also an Independent Defence and Security Researcher and an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute. With a PhD from King’s College London, he is the author of Understanding UK Military Capability (2022).