UK enters ‘most dangerous period I’ve known’, says military chief

The head of the UK military, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, officially warns that the current risks and threats to the country are at their highest level since the Cold War, calling this “the most dangerous period” he has ever known.

While driven by aggressive Russian activities, in just the first five months of 2026, Russian strategic aircraft have crossed into UK airspace as many times as they did in the entire year of 2025. In this regard, Sir Richard warned that Russia risks “crossing a line.”

While moving away from recent decades of preparing for short and self-contained conflicts, the military chief states that the UK must pivot to prepare for prolonged and long-term warfare, citing the war in Ukraine as a primary example.

In the wake of the ongoing public criticism regarding the UK’s diminished military capabilities, Sir Richard expressed confidence that ministers acknowledged the threat and were actively involved in increasing spending.

The crucial investment plan, which outlines the funding for military equipment and infrastructure over the next 10 years has faced repeated delays since its original autumn 2025 target.

“Exactly as the prime minister says, we need to spend more on defence and do it faster. The challenge for ministers is to make those difficult trade-off decisions,” he said.

“And the risks and threats to this country are greater than I have known since the Cold War.”

“And it is important that society and all of us recognize and understand that and that may mean that we need to make different choices and different priorities.”

Lord Roberston previously warned that the UK’s security is in peril and Sir Keir Starmer’s government has shown ruinous indifference towards defence.

He is now serving as a key government advisor and said: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”

He said: “We are under-prepared. We are under-insured. We are under attack. We are not safe... Britain's national security and safety is in peril.”

“There is a corrosive complacency today in Britain's political leadership.” further added.