A strategic capabilities-based representation of the future British armed forces

Abstract

This paper presents a capabilities-based representation that provides a single picture of future military capability for the UK. The visual representation allows the different service branches of the armed forces to both explore and determine their degree of commonality and inter-service capabilities. To achieve this, a framework was developed to provide an architecture for visually representing strategic military capability. The framework is composed from three layers which combine effects-based operations, force structures and the building blocks (facilities and platforms). This framework was then populated with data from the UK's Ministry of Defence, British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.