Major global deployment and instability in Europe look set to keep military busy in 2025

The heads of the Armed Forces, the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force have shared what they think might be in store for each of the services next year.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin says 2025 looks busy, set to be dominated by Russia’s war with Ukraine and instability in the Middle East and further east in the Pacific.

To these challenges, Adm Sir Tony said: “We’re responding and trying to manage those events the whole time.”

The new year will also mark the significant 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day.

For the upcoming commemorations, Adm Sir Tony said: “A real connection with all of that is our carrier deployment next year.”

Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the Royal Navy, believes the Senior Service has some great opportunities to come.

With the Carrier Strike Group deploying to the Indo-Pacific region, he says it “marks again the global deployability of the service”. 

Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, who commands the Royal Air Force, said there will be a “lot going on” with its deployment to Japan and Australia with the carrier.

“We’re very much looking forward to working alongside our Navy colleagues,” he said.

“The Air Force will be ready to fly and fight and support whatever the Government and the country needs us to do.”

And Chief of the General Staff General Sir Roly Walker said: “Our top priority in 2025 is what I set out this year, namely to double our fighting power by 2027 and triple it by the end of the decade.

“I ask all of you to be advocates for our Army, celebrating the ambition in doubling our fighting power and setting the joint force up for the most unfair fights, so that we are ready if war chooses us.”