Starmer chooses RAF chief Sir Richard Knighton to lead armed forces
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The career engineer named the new chief of defence
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has been selected as the next head of all three armed forces, succeeding Admiral Sir Tony Radakin as chief of the defence staff, The Independent understands.
- The appointment, expected to be officially announced soon, comes amid a period described as the most transformative for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in decades.
- Sir Richard, a 56-year-old career engineer, is known for his financial acumen and experience in personnel reform, particularly within the RAF.
- His selection follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to make Britain "a battle-ready, armour-clad nation" through a strategic defence review that includes boosting army personnel to 100,000 and investing in new submarines, drones, and AI.
- An MoD spokesperson said that the appointment process is ongoing and any announcement will be made in the usual way.