A maritime alternative to the 2010 defence review

What would your priorities have been for the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review?

The alternative protects the carriers, orders escorts and more maritime aircraft, and seeks savings by expanding appropriate reserve roles while retaining demanding specialist capabilities in regular service.

The proposed alternative protects the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier programme and considers a third carrier. It also seeks a second batch of Type 45 destroyers and earlier escort orders. A focus on sea lines of communication gives the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force priority, including more maritime patrol aircraft with personnel drawn from both services and substantially more F-35s. Savings would come partly from placing suitable artillery and infantry functions in reserve formations. The infantry proposal assumes fewer overseas infantry operations and rests on confidence in motivated reservists. Regular formations would concentrate on capabilities requiring a continuously maintained level of specialist proficiency.