GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: The Real Reasons Behind Europe's Diminishing Force Numbers

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: Defense IQ

09February2011 9:32amEST

GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: When analysts speak about force modernisation, the focus inevitably turns to new capabilities, aircraft projects and next generation armour. By monitoring the replacement of out-dated equipment with the new, these “like-for-like” replacement figures provide a deceptively simple benchmark for force modernisation’s progress. After all, a military either procures the gear, or it does not.
 
Against this backdrop, manpower figures themselves can often get sidestepped, as if counting the number of men or women in uniform is rather old fashioned, a hang-up of Cold War analysts and statistics buffs. Yet Europe’s downward manpower trends are telling, and understanding the effects of personnel figures on force modernisation provides some useful insights. They help point to European militaries that are reducing troop numbers drastically, whilst increasing their per-head kit spend to match. So take note – the numbers matter. (read full report)

 

 

 

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