UK Army cancels live-fire exercises to save money
The British Army has been ordered to cancel some training exercises, including large-scale live-fire drills, as it seeks to cut costs, the BBC and The Telegraph reported.
Training for troops preparing for deployment or already stationed abroad, including units sent to Estonia, the Falkland Islands and Cyprus, will continue.
However, units based in the UK that are not preparing for a specific deployment have been told to scale back collective training because of funding constraints, according to the BBC.
The cancelled exercises include live-fire drills planned by the Royal Tank Regiment in Wales and a separate exercise involving tanks and Apache helicopters. The restrictions are expected to remain in place for most of the year.
Training focused on modernizing the Army, including drone and counter-drone warfare based on lessons from the war in Ukraine, is expected to continue.
Army reservists will also serve fewer days as commanders seek additional savings. The Telegraph reported that each reservist will serve an average of four to six fewer days through the end of the year.
The cuts will affect not only training but also some work involving the protection of critical national infrastructure and cyber warfare.
The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy reserves have also been instructed to find savings, though Army reservists are expected to be affected the most.
The measures come as the UK government is increasing defense spending and faces pressure to further strengthen the country's military readiness. The government plans to raise defense spending to 2.5% of national income by next year, while the Defense Ministry is still struggling to fund all of its investment plans.