The British Army has been ordered to suspend large-scale training exercises due to a shortage of cash for day-to-day defence spending, in a move which could weaken the country’s military readiness.
Under an army-wide directive, units have been told to “cease activity” and halt “collective training” involving more than 90 personnel, unless the troops are preparing for an imminent overseas deployment or a domestic standby commitment.
The restrictions have already forced the cancellation of major exercises, including a six-week war game in Wales due to begin next week involving Challenger 2 tanks and Apache attack helicopters, according to The Sun and The Times newspapers.
The decision has triggered a backlash from senior military figures, with former Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders describing the move as “unbelievably shortsighted”.
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Meanwhile, Justin Maciejewski DSO, director of the National Army Museum, called it “a scandal”, adding the suspension was unprecedented since the Second World War and it came at a particularly serious time given the growing threats facing Britain.
The Army’s training restrictions come as the Ministry of Defence faces pressure over its in-year running costs.
The funding involved is separate from the capital budgets used for major equipment programmes, including warships and fighter aircraft.
An army source said the decision had not been taken by military commanders.
“This is not our decision. It has been forced on us,” the source said.
Under the new arrangements, soldiers preparing for overseas operations or designated UK standby duties will continue to train at company and battlegroup level.
Other personnel will remain able to conduct smaller-scale training covering basic skills, including weapons handling and vehicle driving, as well as training in the use of drones.
Commanders will also continue to rehearse large-scale operations through computer-based and headquarters exercises.
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However, one source compared the restrictions to asking a football team to practise individually, rather than playing matches together.
A tank crew, for example, could train as a crew but would not be able to conduct exercises involving an entire tank squadron.
Senior officers have reportedly been warned to communicate the changes carefully, in light of concerns the Army is failing to prepare for a potential conflict.
One source described the impact as “devastating”, saying large numbers of soldiers could be left without meaningful collective training.
Insiders compared the fresh restrictions with measures taken during the 1970s fuel crisis, when the armed forces were ordered to reduce petrol consumption.
The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have also faced pressure to reduce activity, although the effects on those services are understood to be less extensive.
The measures come amid continuing uncertainty over the Government’s long-term defence spending plans.
Labour has pledged to increase defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030, but ministers have yet to set out a detailed timetable for reaching the target.
The Government has previously announced an additional £2billion for Army training as part of its Defence Investment Plan (Dip), although that funding will not become available until next year.
The MoD defended its approach, saying it was “prioritising training” according to lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.
The Army said: “Through the Defence Investment Plan, we recently announced £2 billion to transform training for the British Army over the next 15 years.
“That investment makes it all the more important that we prioritise activity that contributes most directly to readiness, deployability and operational effectiveness. That training continues.”
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