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To the surprise of many two of the largest defence procurment projects were exlcuded from the SDR, the Vanguard class Trident submarines and the Eurofighter. However the Trident system was essential to maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, a policy adopted by Labour, and was already nearing completion. Likewise the Eurofighter was nearing production and withdrawal would lead to loss of considerable investment and severe penalties from the partner nations.

1 Summary

• Harrier Force
  Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to merge their Sea Harrier force with the RAF's Harrier GR7s to form " Joint Force Harrier." This joint force was to operate from Royal Navy Invincible class aircraft carriers or air bases as required. With the retirement of the Sea Harrier from 2004 to 2006 the Joint Force Harrier will operate the Harrier GR7 and the upgraded GR9 until the introduction of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

• Aircraft carriers
  The current three Invincible class carriers are to be replaced by two new larger and more flexible aircraft carrierUSS John C. Stennis (left), and HMS Illustrious (right), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier and a typical aircraft carrier. An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft. Aircraft carriers thus allows. These ships, designated Carrier Vessel Future (CVF) are to enter service in 2012 and 2015.

• Mobility
  To increase strategic transport four ro-ro ferries and four C-17 Globemasters were leased. The SDR also reaffirmed the need for a permanent strategic transport force and the Airbus A400MThe Airbus A400M (M for military) is a four engine turboprop aircraft designed by Airbus Military to meet the demand of European nations for a new military cargo aircraft. The initial requirement of the partner nations, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the was selected in 2000. Since that time, with operational tempo increasing the seven year C-17 lease has been extended and it is reported that the RAF will purchase them outright at the end of the lease and operate them alongside the A400M fleet.

• Royal Navy fleet
  The surface fleet force was reduced from 35 to 32 frigates and destroyers, 25 to 22 minehunters and the attack submarine force was reduced from 12 to 10. The potency of the SSN force was increased by the decision to make all capable of firing the TomahawkThe Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile with stubby wings. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude aircraft that could be launched from a su land attack missile (TLAM.) The SDR confirmed the purchase an initial batch of three Astute class submarineThe Astute class of submarine comprises the largest nuclear-powered attack submarines to be built for the Royal Navy. As the Swiftsure class submarines aged, the Royal Navy began to design their replacements. The original design called for large submarines.

• Nuclear deterrent
  The maximum capacity of the Trident missileThe Trident missile is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which is armed with nuclear warheads and is launched from submarines ( SSBNs), making it an SLBM. These are 14 active US Ohio class submarines and 4 UK Vanguard class submarines. There ar system will not be exploited. Approximately 200 warheads will be maintained, reduced from 300. Further the last batch of missile bodies will not be procured, with a total of 58 missiles. The patrols of the Vanguard class SSBNSSBN is the United States Navy Hull classification symbol for a ballistic missile submarine. The SS denotes a submarine, the B denotes ballistic missile capability, and the N denotes nuclear power. See also SSN, SLBM, Ohio class submarine.s will be limited to one vessel carrying a reduced warhead load of 48 (reduced from 96.)

• Army
  The British Army was reorganised, with the establishment of two deployable divisions in the UK and Germany. Another important move was the establishment of the spearhead 16th Air Assault Brigade which includes the Army's WAH-64 Apache attack helicopter force. A Joint Rapid Reaction Force was also established to provide the capability to deploy a Bosnia-sized force at short notice. The Army's size in Germany was to be increase but numbers increased by 3,300 overall. The eight tank squadrons were to be reduced to six larger ones, fielding 58 rather than 38 Challenger 2 tanks each.

• Territorial Army
  The TA was to be modernised and enhanced to make it more readily deployable and usable, primarily through greater integration with the regular Army. Total numbers were to be cut from 56,000 to 40,000.

• Support helicopters
  All of the services battlefield support helicopters (around 400) were combined to form the Joint Helicopter Command .

• RAF fast jet force
  The number of frontline aircraft was reduced by 36 (two squadrons) but the MoD reaffirmed their commitment to the Eurofighter. The SDR indentified the need for a replacement for the Tornado GR4 and initiated studies under the Future Offensive Air System project. The purhcase of Meteor, Brimstone and Storm Shadow missiles was confirmed.

• NBC defence
  An integrated British Army and RAF force, comprising both regular and reservist elements would be formed to specialise in NBC defensive capabilities. This resulted in the formation of the Joint NBC Regiment in 1999.