Does the British Army still have the Capability to Fight and win?

Is Britain ready for war with Russia?

In March 2026, the Russian Army sustained more than 35,000 casualties in Ukraine  - 96 per cent of them either killed or wounded by drones. This year, Ukraine is expected to produce around seven million attack and reconnaissance drones. Russia is expected to produce even more. In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I’m joined by Harry Fullerton, a defence consultant, strategist and transformation expert who once commanded the Household Cavalry Regiment. Together, we examine how drone technology is reshaping the modern battlefield, whether the British Army is psychologically prepared for war, and whether the British public is ready for the profound sacrifices a future conflict may demand.

Does the British Army have the capability to fight and win?

It is now widely accepted that the British Army requires radical reform if it is to survive, let alone prevail, in a future conflict. But how radical does that reform need to be? Has the time come to challenge sacred cows and think the unthinkable? Are brigades, battalions, companies, platoons and sections still the right force structures for the modern battlefield? Is the RAF Regiment still relevant? Should the Royal Marines continue to exist as a separate entity? Has military parachuting become an outdated concept? Regimental tradition and history remain vital components of any fighting force. But the drone units that may fight — and possibly win — the next war have yet to be created. In this episode, I discuss these questions with Harry Fullerton, a former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, who served in Afghanistan at the height of the Taliban insurgency in 2009. You may not agree with all our views, but I’m sure you will find the podcast fascinating.

Does the British Army still have the Capability to Fight and win?

It is now widely accepted that the British Army requires radical reform if it is to survive, let alone prevail, in a future conflict. But how radical does that reform need to be? Has the time come to challenge sacred cows and think the unthinkable? Are brigades, battalions, companies, platoons and sections still the right force structures for the modern battlefield? Is the RAF Regiment still relevant? Should the Royal Marines continue to exist as a separate entity? Has military parachuting become an outdated concept? Regimental tradition and history remain vital components of any fighting force. But the drone units that may fight — and possibly win — the next war have yet to be created. In this episode, I discuss these questions with Harry Fullerton, a former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, who served in Afghanistan at the height of the Taliban insurgency in 2009. You may not agree with all our views, but I’m sure you will find the podcast fascinating.

The US-Iran Conflict Trap

In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, Paul Cornish, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of Exeter, and I examine how the United States has become trapped in a conflict with Iran. As Trump posts messianic images of himself on social media and clashes with the Pope, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, peace talks have stalled, and the global economy is teetering on the brink of recession. Is there a way out of the conflict, and can the US extricate itself from yet another Middle Eastern quagmire? Listen in to find out.

Has Trump Lost the Initiative in Iran?

In this episode of The Security Podcast, I’m joined by strategic studies professor Paul Cornish to examine one of the most pressing questions in global security today: has Donald Trump lost the initiative in the war with Iran? We explore how this conflict may be reshaping the nature of modern warfare and consider whether the United States remains the military superpower it once was. We also turn to the UK, where the war has exposed weaknesses in Britain’s defensive posture, and ask what this means for the future of its armed forces.