BFBS Sitrep

BFBS Radio

Award winning Defence podcast from BFBS.

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946 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes946

Newest first

Dec 8, 2022 · 29 min
Arming Ukraine
Billions have been spent sending weapons and equipment to help Ukraine over the last 10 months. Sitrep hears from the logistics team at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois about how contributions from the United States reach Europe. The programme hears that lessons learnt from the evacuation from Kabul about information sharing have helped with their current Ukraine operation.And what advice are the Chiefs of Staff getting from their Senior Enlisted Adviser? Sitrep has spoken to WO1 Rick
Dec 1, 2022 · 29 min
Why is Russia firing blanks?
Fragments of a soviet era missile, designed for nuclear war, have been found in Ukraine. Russia appears to be firing the AS-15 Kent with ballast instead of a warhead.Sitrep explains why Moscow is using these expensive missiles as decoys.As a new zero-tolerance policy comes into effect in the forces, for unacceptable sexual behaviour, we ask Sarah Atherton MP whether it delivers the change she’s been driving for. And should Afghan interpreters, who served with British forc
Nov 24, 2022 · 29 min
Forces families face the cost-of-living crisis
Some soldiers are turning to food banks, or looking for second jobs, as they try to cope with soaring bills and prices.Sitrep talks to the Army’s most senior soldier about how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting the men and women he represents, as he appeals to those struggling to speak up and explains what help the service can give.Inflation has also effectively wiped billions of pounds out of the MoD’s spending power, so what will that mean for the planned update to the UK’
Nov 24, 2022 · 19 min
EXTRA - Meet the Army Sergeant Major
Sitrep talks to the British Army’s most senior soldier, whose job is to keep top brass in touch with the experiences of the men and women of the army.WO1 Paul Carney tells James Hirst the big issues that are affecting soldiers, and how he’s trying to ensure commanders understand them.He also talks about drawing on his own family’s experience of sexual harassment in the drive to end ‘unacceptable behaviours’.And he shares his own journey through the Army, including making
Nov 17, 2022 · 29 min
Investigating the Poland missile strike
The missile that killed two people in a Polish village was almost immediately reported as being Russian, but now is put down to an ‘unfortunate accident’ as Ukraine defended itself.Sitrep explains how we got to that important truth before a major misjudgement was made.We also reports from Poland where hundreds of British troops deployed to help the NATO ally have been on exercise.And we assess the announcement of an abrupt end to Britain’s decade long military presence in
Nov 17, 2022 · 17 min
EXTRA – ‘We have literally hamstrung Ukraine’
Ukraine has achieved its biggest victory since the early days of the war by liberating the city of Kherson from 8 months of occupation.But what comes next?In this extra edition of Sitrep we hear from Kherson where residents are celebrating, to a background of artillery fire.We also talk in detail to the former top military commander of NATO, General Philip Breedlove, about what moves we can expect next from Russian and Ukrainian forces.He also explains his frustrat
Nov 10, 2022 · 29 min
Russia’s retreat – game changer, or bluff?
Russia has ordered its troops to abandon the strategically important city of Kherson, but don’t expect Ukrainian troops to march straight back in.Sitrep explains why, what happens next, and what traps Russia may be leaving in Kherson.We also witness UK training that’s turning Ukrainian citizens into soldiers in the space of five weeks.The US midterm elections have been a political tremor, rather than earthquake, we’ll assess whether th
Nov 3, 2022 · 29 min
Ending the UK’s Estonia ‘surge’
Britain is bringing home hundreds of extra troops who’ve bolstered the UK’s presence in Estonia since the invasion of Ukraine.But the government says it’s improving capabilities in other ways, with weapons and equipment. Sitrep asks if it’s enough to deter Russia and defend the Baltic state if needed.It was the end of last winter when Ukraine was invaded, now as winter approaches again how will it affect this war? A former RAF weather forecaster gives us some insights.<
Oct 27, 2022 · 29 min
Dirty bomb, or dirty trick?
Russia has used top-level diplomatic channels to tell the west Ukraine is planning a radioactive ‘dirty bomb’ attack on its own soil. Sitrep asks why the west is convinced it’s ‘transparently false’, what Russia’s trying to achieve with this claim, and whether it has endangered channels meant to prevent a catastrophic miscalculation. Russian men ordered to fight in Ukraine have been venting their anger on social media. We hear from a woman in Mosco
Oct 20, 2022 · 29 min
Why shouldn’t UK veterans train China’s military?
There’s been much outrage about 30 British veterans been who’ve training Chinese fighter pilots, and the government is promising a legally backed ban on helping ‘enemy’ forces.BFBS Sitrep digs deeper into the story, including official British defence links to China, and asks a former senior RAF officer if this is a little more complex than it first appears.Russia has been using a ‘kamikaze drone’ to knock out big parts of Ukraine’s electricity network, we’ll give you a guide to
Oct 20, 2022 · 17 min
EXTRA - Trailblazing women ‘going with the boys’ in WW2
The histories of World War Two were largely written by men, because they were almost exclusively the ones who experienced it at the front lines.But a handful of remarkable women defied official bans, and went to the battlefields as war reporters.In this extra edition of BFBS Sitrep we hear at length from Judith Mackrell=about her new book ‘Going With The Boys’ =, which tells the stories of six of these women war reporters.From risking execution to abandoning lunch with Er
Oct 13, 2022 · 30 min
The price of Russia’s revenge
Russia has fired half-a-billion dollars worth of missiles at Ukraine in just one day, after a blast destroyed part of its bridge to Crimea.The Kremlin calls it ‘revenge’. BFBS Sitrep assesses whether it does anything to advance Moscow’s war effort, or damages it by wasting vital weapons.Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine has a new commander, nicknamed ‘General Armageddon’. We look at his track record and compare him with Ukraine’s top officer.We also talk to one of the
Oct 6, 2022 · 29 min
New ships to protect UK energy and data
After what looks like a ‘grey zone’ attack on gas-pipelines the UK is rapidly buying two new Royal Navy ships.But how can they protect critical energy supplies, and communication cables, which can be miles below the surface of the sea?President Putin might now be using actions to reinforce his words that he’s ‘not bluffing’ about nuclear weapons, but if he does use them can we respond without starting a new world war?And we reflect on centuries of UK military service by C
Sep 29, 2022 · 29 min
RAF diversity recruitment drive – were mistakes made?
The Ministry of Defence has admitted "some mistakes were made" after reports of a recruitment drive favouring women and ethnic minorities.BFBS Sitrep hears the opinions of a former female RAF fighter pilot and asks a legal expert what is and isn’t acceptable when you’re trying to reach diversity targets.And - the untold stories of Colditz prisoner of war camp… what really happened there behind the sti
Sep 22, 2022 · 29 min
Has the war in Ukraine reached a turning point?
The whole programme is devoted to the war in Ukraine.The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK tells Sitrep that President Putins’s announcement that Russia is mobilising around 300 thousand military reservists is a sign he feels he might be losing the war. He also tells the programme that President Putin is blackmailing the international community by appearing to raise the threat of nuclear weapons.Sitrep will also hear how the fighting is going on the ground from a reporter who’
Sep 15, 2022 · 38 min
King Charles III – Commander in Chief
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was Commander in Chief of the UK’s Armed Forces for just over 70 years, now that job falls to her eldest son.BFBS Sitrep talks to a former head of The Army who knows King Charles III well, and we listen to one of his recent speeches to troops to assess what kind of Commander in Chief he will be.As we examine The Queen’s military legacy we talk to Sharon Turton about being personally presented the Elizabeth Cross in honour of her fallen husband, Kri
Sep 8, 2022 · 29 min
New PM, a new era for Defence?
Liz Truss promised big on Defence in her campaign to replace Boris Johnson – now she has to deliver.BFBS Sitrep assesses what a big uplift in the defence budget could be spent on, how she will handle the Ukraine war, and whether the forces are facing another shake up.Russia expected to win in Ukraine within days, six months on it needs millions more rockets and shells and it’s turned to North Korea to supply them. But how good are those munitions?And a former member of th
Sep 8, 2022 · 21 min
EXTRA – ‘Never will I die’
A former member of the SBS shares his remarkable story with BFBS Sitrep.It was Toby Gutteridge’s dream job, but then it tore his life apart.He was shot in the neck in Afghanistan, leaving him paralysed.13 years on he runs his own clothing business, and has just written his autobiography.From getting selected for special forces, through the incident that almost killed him, to a breakdown and rebuilding of his life he tells us how he’s been given a second chance that
Sep 1, 2022 · 29 min
‘Adversarial’ compensation system under fire.
The compensation system for injured service personnel has been accused of ‘lacking humanity’ after an assessment panel was heard laughing at a claimant.A veteran turned journalist tells BFBS Sitrep it’s far from a one off, as the government promises improvements.Defence Intelligence has a new chief, and for the first time it’s a civilian. We ask if that matters as we investigate the job of Defence Intelligence.And we assess the military legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev, t
Aug 25, 2022 · 29 min
When will the Ukraine war end?
When Russia invaded Ukraine we thought it would probably be over in days. That was 6 months ago. So how, and when will it end?BFBS Sitrep gets the assessments of experienced military minds, the Armed Forces Minister, and our own Professor Michael Clarke.Thousands of Afghans who worked with British Forces were promised new lives in the UK, but a year on many are still in limbo living in hotels. We hear how it’s affecting them and ask who is responsible for sorting it.</