Chapter 4 – Protect Our People 27 4.31 We will continue to collaborate with our allies to support the development of other countries’ crisis response, and to help to build crisis management and protective security capabilities in countries where British interests could be affected. B. Our Armed Forces 4.32 The essential role of our Armed Forces is to defend the UK so that we can live in peace. 4.33 Since 2010, we have restored our economic security and balanced the defence budget. We will continue to meet the NATO target to invest 2% of GDP on defence, which will allow us to: •• Increase the defence budget in real terms every year of this Parliament. •• Deliver our commitment to maintain the size of the regular Armed Forces and to not reduce the Army to below 82,000, and increase the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force by a total of 700 personnel. •• Deliver our commitment to increase the equipment budget by at least 1% in real terms and continue to meet the NATO target to spend 20% of the defence budget on researching, developing and procuring new equipment. •• Establish a new Joint Security Fund, from which the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will draw. We will allow the MOD to invest efficiency savings into the Armed Forces. 4.34 We have reformed the MOD and Armed Forces, including by improving our procurement process, to ensure that we can maximise investment in the front line. We will spend £178 billion over the next decade on equipment and equipment support. We will also take steps to increase the productivity of the Armed Forces, enhancing their fighting power still further. 4.35 The MOD also contributes to our economic security, supports our industry including through innovation and exports, and continues to invest 1.2% of the defence budget on science and technology. 4.36 Over the last five years, we have learned lessons from operations in Libya, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. We will build on the adaptable approach we took in 2010, and ensure that the Armed Forces remain flexible and agile over the next 10 years. Defence policy 4.37 To support the delivery of this strategy, our defence policy sets the Armed Forces eight missions. Routinely, they will: •• Defend and contribute to the security and resilience of the UK and Overseas Territories. This includes deterring attacks; defending our airspace, territorial waters and cyber space; countering terrorism at home and abroad; supporting the UK civil authorities in strengthening resilience; and protecting our people overseas. •• Provide the nuclear deterrent. This mission is set out in Section C of this chapter.