RUSI SURVEY: 68% believe need for carriers has become more apparent since the 2010 SDSR

The need for a carrier strike capability has become more apparent since last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review, according to 68% of the defence and security community surveyed by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Download the survey here: http://www.rusi.org/downloads/assets/RUSISurvey2011.pdf

'Overall, the results reveal a high degree of scepticism among this elite survey of those most interested in the subject at the way defence is being handled.' -Professor Michael Clarke, Director-General, RUSI

The 2011 RUSI survey, asked 1,543 people from the defence and security community whether they agreed or disagreed to ten key statements covering the outcome of the defence review, future capabilities and reactions to the Libya campaign. The ten statements were:

1.       The UK now has a strategy for its national security that is appropriate to the geopolitical challenges the country faces.

31% (485 respondents) agreed with the statement, 59% (908 respondents) disagreed and 10% (150 respondents) were undecided.

2.        The senior military leadership should have a greater role in the development of strategy for security and defence and to protect the national interests of the United Kingdom.

69% (1070) agreed, 22% (344) disagreed and 9% (129) didn't know.

3.       The Libya campaign will increase the political willingness to engage in comparable interventions in the future.

56% (871) agreed, 30% (452) disagreed and 14% (220) were undecided.

4.       Experience of the Libya campaign validated the equipment and capability changes set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

12% (186) agreed, 74% (1143) disagreed and 14% (214) were undecided.

5.        The Government should stick to its commitment to withdraw all UK combat forces from Afghanistan by 2014, whatever the conditions on the ground.

 44% (685) agreed, 49% (752) disagreed and 7% (106) didn't know.

6.       The Ministry of Defence has done well in handling the resource constraints under this Government.

35% (535) agreed, 45% (699) disagreed and 20% (309) didn't know.

7.       The implementation of the recommendations of the Defence Reform Unit (the Levene Review) is likely to improve the management of defence resources.

35% (545) agreed, 19% (287) disagreed and 46% (711) didn't know.

8.       The Government's approach to the defence industry and procurement will assure access to necessary defence capabilities.

17% (265) agreed, 54% (835) disagreed and 29% (443) were undecided.

9.       The need for a carrier strike capability has become more apparent since last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review.

68% (1059) agreed, 24% (363) disagreed and 8% (121) were undecided.

10.   The UK should invest more resources in the enabling capabilities necessary for independent operations, even if this reduces the size of deployable forces.

57% (878) agreed, 32% (497) disagreed and 11% (168) didn't know.

Commenting on the survey findings Professor Michael Clarke, Director-General of RUSI, said:

"Overall, the results reveal a high degree of scepticism among this elite survey of those most interested in the subject at the way defence is being handled.  The Strategic Defence and Security Review still gets low marks from the clear majority of respondents. Indeed the Ministry of Defence gets little credit even for the success of the Libyan campaign.

"Given that it has been such a difficult year for defence in general and for the Ministry of Defence in particular, military and defence officials might be grateful that the results of the RUSI 2011 Survey are not worse than they are."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

• 1. 'The Defence and Security Review Survey' was conducted online between 20 and 27 October 2011, gauging the opinions of 1,543 respondents from RUSI's defence and security community. The anonymity of contributors was preserved. In addition to giving their reactions to the ten statements posed by RUSI, our network was invited to offer its qualitative contributions. More than a third of those who took part offered their views, which we distil in this paper.
• 2. The full survey, together with expert analysis, can be found at: http://www.rusi.org/downloads/assets/RUSISurvey2011.pdf
• 3. RUSI is an independent think-tank for defence and security. RUSI is a unique institution; founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, it embodies nearly two centuries of forward thinking, free discussion and careful reflection on defence and security matters.
• 4. Any enquiries, please contact the RUSI Press Office

ENDS