CONFIDENTIAL
The areas where British can best contribute
25.
The Government has decided to concentrate British effort
in those areas where it believes that Britain can make the most
significant contribution to her security and that of the Alliance.
The Government judges these to be:-
a.
The Central Region, where NATO is heavily and
increasingly outnumbered in fighting divisions, in manpower
in fighting units and in all the major weapons systems (tanks,
field guns and aircraft). The British Army of the Rhine (BAOR),
which holds an important section of the Central Front in the
crucial area of the North German plain, and RAF Germany play
a major part in the forward defence of this Region.
For these reasons, we will continue to maintain a field
army of 55000 and a tactical air force on the mainland of
Europe in accordance with our Brussels Treaty commitment,
making no reductions below this level in BAOR or to RAF Germany
in advance of Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions (MBFR).
We shall continue to make provision for reinforcing these
forces in times of tension or emergency. They will be
progressively re-equipped to improve their effectiveness.
Scorpion tracked reconnaissance vehicles have already entered
service with the Army; in due course the Lance tactical nuclear
missile system will replace Honest John; and the Rapier low-
level surface-to-air missile system has entered service with
the Army, and with the RAF Regiment for airfield defence.
Plans for the introduction of the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
I-10
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL