The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of British Armed Forces. As of 2019, the British Army comprises just over 79,300 trained regular (full-time) personnel and just over 27,200 trained reserve (part-time) personnel.
The modern British Army traces back to 1707, with an antecedent in the English Army that was created during the Restoration in 1660. The term British Army was adopted in 1707 after the Acts of Union between England and Scotland. Members of the British Army swear allegiance to the monarch as their commander-in-chief,[10] but the Bill of Rights of 1689 requires parliamentary consent for the Crown to maintain a peacetime standing army. Therefore, Parliament approves the army by passing an Armed Forces Act at least once every five years. The army is administered by the Ministry of Defence and commanded by the Chief of the General Staff.
The British Army has seen action in major wars between the world's great powers, including the Seven Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War and the First and Second World Wars. Britain's victories in these decisive wars allowed it to influence world events and establish itself as one of the world's leading military and economic powers. Since the end of the Cold War, the British Army has been deployed to a number of conflict zones, often as part of an expeditionary force, a coalition force or part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation.
Infantry section equipment[]
he British infantry section consists of eight men who are normally organised into two four-man infantry fireteams. While equipment formations can be tailored as required by section and platoon commanders, infantry sections are usually issued with the following:[3][4][5]
- Weapons
- Six L85A2/A3 rifles, two of which are usually equipped with an L123A2/A3 underslung grenade launcher (UGL)
- One L129A1 sharpshooter rifle
- One L7A2 general purpose machine gun (Can be replaced by an additional L85A2/A3 rifle at commanding officer's discretion for a total of seven L85A2/A3 rifles)
- Seven L3A1 bayonets for use with L85A2/A3 and L129A1 rifles (Eight bayonets if L7A2 GPMG is replaced with an additional L85A2/A3 rifle)
- One L128A1 combat shotgun for use by the section point man (Point position is subject to rotation between individual members of the section)[6]
- Two NLAW anti-tank weapons
- L72A9 or L2A1 anti-structure munitions
- L109A2 High explosive grenades
- L132A1 smoke grenades and/or L84A3 red phosphorus smoke grenades [7]
- Vision systems
- Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux (SUSAT) or SpecterOS[8] Lightweight Day Sights (LDS)
- Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) to be used with the L129A1 rifle
- Image intensified Common Weapon Sights
- Laser Light Module Vario Ray Adaptive Target Acquisition Modules[9]
- TAM-14 small Thermal Imaging System
- Head mounted Night Vision System (HNVS), based on the American AN/PVS-14.[10]
- VIPIR-2+ thermal imaging weapon sights
- Commander's target locating systems (CTLS)
- Communications equipment
- Personal Role Radio (PRR) - one issued to each member.[11]
- Bowman secure VHF Radio
Weapons[]
Pistols[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Cartrige | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L105A1/A2
L106A1/A2 L107A1 L117A1/A2 |
Germany
Switzerland |
Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | |
| L131A1
L137A1 |
Austria | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm |
Infantry rifles[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Cartridge | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L85A2
L85A3 L22A2 |
United Kingdom | Assault rifle (L85A2/A3) Carbine (L22A2) |
5.56×45mm | |
| L129A1 | United States | Sharpshooter rifle | 7.62×51mm | |
| L119A1
L119A2 |
Canada | Carbine | 5.56×45mm | |
| MCX | Germany | Assault Rifle | .300 AAC Blackout | |
| M16A2
M203 |
United States | Assault Rifle | 5.56x45mm | |
| L101A2 | Germany | Carbine | 5.56x45mm | |
| M6A2 UCIW | United States | Carbine | 5.56x45mm | |
| L2A1 | Germany | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm |
Bayonet[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| L3A1 | United Kingdom | Socket bayonet |
Long range rifles[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Cartridge | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L118A1 L118A1 AWC |
United Kingdom | Precision rifle | 7.62×51mm | |
| L115A3
L115A4 |
United Kingdom | Precision rifle | 8.59mm | |
| L121A1 | United Kingdom | Anti-material rifle | 12.7mm | |
| AI AX50 | United Kingdom | Anti-material rifle | 12.7mm | |
| L135A1 | United States | Anti-material rifle | 12.7mm |
Submachine guns[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Cartridge | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L92A1
L91A1 L80A1 L90A1 |
Germany | Submachine gun | 9×19mm |
Machine guns[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Cartridge | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L108A1
L110A2 L110A3 Minimi 7.62 |
Belgium | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm 7.62×51mm |
|
| L7A2 | Belgium | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm | |
| L111A1 | United States | Heavy machine gun | 12.7mm |
Shotguns[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Cartridge | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L128A1 | Italy | Semi-automatic shotgun | 12 bore | |
| L74A1
L74A2 |
United States | Pump-action shotgun | 12 bore |
Grenade launchers[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Cartridge | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L123A2
L123A3 L17A1 |
Germany | Underslung grenade launcher | 40×46mm | |
| L134A1 | Germany | Grenade machine gun | 40×53mm |
Explosives[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Detonation | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L109A2 | Switzerland | HE hand grenade | Fuse | |
| L83A1/A2
L132A1 |
United Kingdom | Smoke screening hand grenade | Fuse | |
| L84A2
L84A3 |
Germany | Red phosphorus
smoke screening hand grenade |
Fuse | |
| L68A1 Green
L69A1 Orange L70A1 Red L71A1 Blue L100A1 Yellow L101A1 Purple L152A1 Green L153A1 Orange L154A1 Red L155A1 Yellow L157A1 Purple L158A1 Turquoise |
United Kingdom | Signal smoke hand grenade | Fuse | |
| PE7
PE8 |
United Kingdom | Plastic explosive (RDX-based) | Detonator | |
| L26A1 | United Kingdom | Bangalore torpedo demoliton charge | Detonator | |
| M18A1 Anti-Personnel Mine | United States | Command-detonated anti-personnel mine | Remote | |
| L9A8 | United Kingdom | HE blast anti-tank mine | Pressure |
Indirect fire weapons[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Calibre | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L16A2 | United Kingdom
Canada |
Mortar | 81mm |
Portable anti-material weapons[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Warhead | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLAW | Sweden
United Kingdom |
Anti-tank weapon | 150mm | |
| Javelin | United States | Anti-tank weapon | 127mm | |
| L1A2
L2A1 |
Sweden | Anti-tank weapon | 84mm | |
| L2A1 ASM | Israel | Anti-structure weapon | 90mm | |
| Starstreak MANPAD | United Kingdom | Anti-air weapon | 22mm x 3 |
Vehicles[]
Armoured[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Number | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challenger 2 | United Kingdom | Main battle tank | 227 | |
| Ajax | United Kingdom
Spain Austria |
Armoured fighting vehicle | 6 | |
| CVR(T) | United Kingdom | Armoured fighting vehicle | 654 | |
| Warrior | United Kingdom | Armoured fighting vehicle | 769 | |
| Bulldog | United Kingdom | Armoured fighting vehicle | 891 | |
| Mastiff | United States
United Kingdom |
Protected mobility vehicle | 396 | |
| Ridgeback | United States
United Kingdom |
Protected mobility vehicle | 168 | |
| Wolfhound | United States
United Kingdom |
Protected mobility vehicle | 125 | |
| Jackal | United Kingdom | Protected mobility vehicle | 437 | |
| Coyote | United Kingdom | Protected mobility vehicle | 71 | |
| Foxhound | United Kingdom | Protected mobility vehicle | 398 | |
| Husky | United States | Protected mobility vehicle | 311 | |
| RWMIK Land Rover | United Kingdom | Protected patrol vehicle | 371 | |
| Panther | Italy | Command and liaison | 401 | |
| TPz Fuchs | Germany | CBRN reconnaissance | 11 | |
| Overall | Main Battle Tank | 227 | ||
| Armoured Fighting Vehicle | 2,320 | |||
| Armoured Personnel Carrier | 2,689 |
Artillery and air-defence[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Number | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMLRS | United States | Rocket artillery | 35 | |
| L131 AS-90 | United Kingdom | Self-propelled artillery | 89 | |
| L118 Light Gun | United Kingdom | Towed howitzer | 126 | |
| Rapier | United Kingdom | Surface-to-air missile system | 24 | |
| Sky Sabre | United Kingdom | Surface-to-air missile system | ? | |
| Starstreak SP HVM | United Kingdom | Surface-to-air missile system | 62 | |
| Starstreak LML | United Kingdom | Surface-to-air missile system | 145 | |
| Overall | Rocket Artillery | 35 | ||
| Artillery | 215 | |||
| Anti-Aircraft | 231 |
Engineering and logistics[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Number | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trojan | United Kingdom | Assault breacher vehicle | 32 | |
| Titan | United Kingdom | Armoured vehicle-launched bridge | 33 | |
| CRARRV | United Kingdom | Armoured recovery vehicle | 75 | |
| Terrier | United Kingdom | Combat engineering vehicle | 60 | |
| Alvis Unipower | United Kingdom | Tank bridge transporter | 139 | |
| M3 Amphibious Rig | Germany | Amphibious bridging vehicle | 37 | |
| Buffalo | United States | Talisman counter-IED | 19 | |
| JCB HMEE | United Kingdom | Talisman counter-IED | 17 | |
| Oshkosh HET | United States | Heavy equipment transporter | 91 | |
| MTVR | United States | Close support tanker | 357 | |
| MAN SV | Germany | Support vehicle | 7,484 | |
| Leyland
Foden |
United Kingdom | DROPS | 1,217 | |
| Overall | Support Vehicle | 9,561 |
Miscellaneous[]
| Name | Origin | Type | Number | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinzgauer | Austria | All-terrain truck | 190 | |
| Mowag Duro | Switzerland | All-terrain truck | 190 | |
| Land Rover Wolf | United Kingdom | Utility vehicle | 12,000 | |
| Land Rover Battle Field Ambulance (BFA) | United Kingdom | Battlefield ambulance | 116 | |
| Overall | Utility Vehicle | 12,496 |
Aircraft[]
| Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In Service | Total | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AgustaWestland Apache | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2004 | 50 | 67 | |
| AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Utility | 2014 | 34 | 34 | |
| Bell 212 | Canada | Rotorcraft | Utility | 1995 | 5 | 5 | |
| Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II | France | Rotorcraft | SAS | 2009 | 5 | 5 | |
| Thales Watchkeeper WK450 | United Kingdom | UAV | ISR | 2014 | 49 | 50 | |
| Westland Gazelle | United Kingdom
France |
Rotorcraft | Patrol | 1974 | 32 | 36 | |
| Overall | Helicopter | 126 | 147 | ||||
| UAV | 49 | 50 |
Future equipment[]
- The Future Integrated Soldier Technology is a suite of equipment capable of enhancing an infantryman's effectiveness as part of the Future Soldier programme.
- The Scout SV known as "Ajax" in British service and its variants have been chosen to replace the CVR(T) family of vehicles. Ajax was due to go operational in 2019, but as of October 2019 this had yet to occur.
- The Land Ceptor Missile system will replace the Rapier by 2020.
- A new body armour system known as Virtus is under development as a replacement for the Osprey vest and Mk. 7 helmet.
- The MoD has a requirement for a new multi role vehicle under the Multi Role Vehicle-Protected requirement with main gate expected in 2017. At DSEI 2015 General Dynamics UK announced that they would offer variants of their Ocelot (Foxhound) and Eagle vehicles for the requirement. In July 2017, the US DSCA notified the US Congress of a possible sale of 2,747 JLTV vehicles and accessories to the UK. As of Oct 2019 no decision has been made.
- The British Army wants to purchase 8x8 wheeled armoured fighting vehicles to replace the Mastiff and Ridgeback in British Service. This program used to be part of FRES UV, later named simply UV (Utility Vehicle) and now known as Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV). This vehicle is intended to equip the 4 "heavy protected mobility" battalions under Army 2020 Refine. They will also be part of the two Strike Brigades proposed under the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. In 2018 the UK rejoined the Boxer AFV consortium and as of Oct. 2019 are in negotiations with a view to purchasing 500+ units. On November 5, 2019, it was announced that a £2.8 billion deal for 500 Boxer armoured vehicles had been signed. Deliveries would start in 2023.
- Senior army officers and procurement officials are looking at either upgrading the Challenger 2 or outright replacing it. At DSEI 2015, army officials expressed their concern with the Challenger 2's armament and its inevitable obsolescence in coming years. Other causes of concern are the Challengers engine and electronics. The army stated that they had been in discussions with armoured fighting vehicle manufacturers about the future of the tank and its potential replacement. A later Defense News article said that the British Army would still proceed with its Challenger 2 LEP, citing that a replacement at the present would be too costly. On 22 December 2016, an assessment phase award was awarded to BAE Systems and Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmbH to progress the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project.
- Under the Non-Articulated Vehicle – Protected (NAV-P) program, the MoD is looking for a successor to the DROPS vehicles. This has resulted in a contract placed in 2018 for the conversion of 382 MAN HX77 Support Vehicles to carry the EPLS (Enhanced Palletised Load System) equipment. They are due to fully enter service in March 2021. The contract includes the conversion of 33 winterised/waterproofed versions
- The Army is currently in the process of receiving 56 Harris Corporation T7 EOD unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), procured by DE&S under Project Starter. These systems are due to fully enter service by December 2020, replacing the fleet of Wheelbarrow Mk.8B's at the same time.
- The British MOD released a Request for Information for the Mobile Fires Platform, a new 155mm self-propelled howitzer to support the Armoured Infantry and Strike Brigades.
- A Prior Information Notice was released for a successor to the Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar (MAMBA), Advanced Sound-ranging Post (ASP) and Counter-battery radar, all which will reach their out-out-service date in 2026.
- In July 2019, the UK issued a Prior Information Notice for Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) demonstrators which could be mounted on army vehicles.
- A Robotic Platoon Vehicle (RPV) was pitched at DSEI 2019.