The Royal Navy could have as little as 1,000 days to prepare for potential conflict, according to its head, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who has set out plans to make the service battle-ready within three years. His warning comes amid rising global tensions, including recent US strikes on Iran, cyberattacks across Europe, and bomb threats against international airports.
Navy chief's warning on Russia
Speaking at the International Sea Power Conference, General Jenkins emphasised the ongoing threat from Russia, weeks after an English Channel confrontation with a Russian warship. He said: "I am under no illusion about the world we face. Russia will continue to test our resolve and look for weakness. But war is not inevitable - not if our enemies believe we are serious. Prepare for war if you want peace. That means building our strength, adapting faster, standing together and demonstrating that, if required, we are ready to fight."
While he stressed he was not predicting conflict, he maintained that the world had become considerably more volatile than in previous times. The Times reported that General Jenkins spelled out how limited the Royal Navy's preparation time is as it adopts naval drone warfare, with everything "focused on the end of the decade".
Concerns over command shortages
His remarks followed reports that the Royal Navy faces a shortage of commanders for its ships and submarines. According to The Sun, not a single officer passed the submarine command course, known as Perisher, in 2025. On the surface fleet, fewer than 10 officers passed a separate command qualification, CQ2, a figure well below the roughly 35 successful candidates thought to be needed to maintain year-round command at sea.
Despite these figures, the Royal Navy has pushed back against suggestions it lacks sufficient personnel. A spokesperson said: "We continue to generate the high-quality leaders we need for operational commitments."
