Plans for Suffield's future are outlined in the United Kingdom's national defence makeover.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
@MedicineHatNews
A new broad update to modernization plans in the British military says the U.K. and Canada are now discussing the future use of facilities at CFB Suffield.
The base northwest of Medicine Hat saw heavy tank and battlegroup field exercises from 1972 to 2020, when the pandemic halted travel plans and then a large-scale review ordered changes to armour and training relocation.
On Monday, the U.K. Ministry of Defence released its “Strategic Defence Review” for 2025, which calls for new nuclear and naval capabilities, preparations to fight a land war in Europe, investments in defence procurement and a focus on emerging warfare methods, such as drones and cyber defence.
“As a member of the Five Eyes intelligence community, and a key NATO Ally in the Arctic, High North and North Atlantic, Canada remains vital in assuring transatlantic security,” reads a portion of the 144-page document
“The U.K. and Canada are exploring opportunities to build on a 50-year history of British Army training at BATUS driving innovation through next-generation test and evaluation facilities.”
That follows statements last winter from local BATUS commanders that the operational profile at the 2,700 square-kilometre base would be updated and could prove valuable in unmanned vehicle testing and training.
The Associated Press reported that the Labour government will likely adopt all recommendations of the review and says it is on track to spend 2.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product on defence by 2027.
