Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) Facts for Kids

This page is about the department established in 1964. For the department from 1947 to 1964, see Ministry of Defence (1947–1964). For its headquarters, see Ministry of Defence Main Building.

Quick facts for kids
Ministry of Defence
Department overview

MoD Main Building, Westminster
Formed	1 April 1964 (as modern department)
Jurisdiction	Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters	Main Building, Whitehall, Westminster, London 51°30′14″N 0°07′30″W / 51.5040°N 0.1249°W / 51.5040; -0.1249
Employees	60,000 (FTE) civilian staff (April 2021) 198,940 military personnel
Annual budget	£55 billion; FY 2021
Secretary of State responsible	John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence
Department executives	Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff David Williams, Permanent Secretary
Child agencies	Defence Equipment and Support Defence Science and Technology Laboratory United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

The Ministry of Defence (MOD or MoD) is a government department in the United Kingdom. Its main job is to make sure the UK is safe and to manage the British Armed Forces. This includes the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force.

The MOD works to protect the UK and its interests around the world. It also helps keep international peace and stability. The department handles the daily tasks of the armed forces, plans for emergencies, and buys new equipment.

How the MOD Started
Important People in the MOD
- Ministers in Charge
- Top Military Leaders
How the MOD Works
- MOD Departments and Agencies
MOD Buildings and Land
- The Main Building
Images for kids
See also

How the MOD Started

In the 1920s and 1930s, people in the UK government realized that the different parts of the armed forces (Navy, Army, Air Force) needed to work together better. They wanted to create one main department to oversee everything.

In 1940, during World War II, Winston Churchill created the role of Minister of Defence. This person was in charge of coordinating all defence matters. After the war, in 1946, the Ministry of Defence Act was passed. This law made the Minister of Defence a very important role, with a seat in the Cabinet.

Before 1964, there were five separate government departments dealing with defence. These included the Admiralty (for the Navy), the War Office (for the Army), and the Air Ministry (for the Air Force). In 1964, these departments all joined together to form the modern Ministry of Defence. This was done to help the different services work as one team and avoid rivalries.

Important People in the MOD

The Ministry of Defence has a team of ministers and senior military leaders. They work together to make important decisions about the UK's defence.

Ministers in Charge

The ministers are politicians who lead different areas of the MOD. The most senior minister is the Secretary of State for Defence.

Minister	Office	Portfolio
John Healey MP	Secretary of State for Defence	Leads the entire department; handles big plans and operations; works with important international partners like the US and NATO; oversees nuclear defence.
Lord Coaker	Minister of State for Defence	Manages how the department is run; deals with UK's relationships with other countries (like Australia and Asia); oversees safety and security.
Maria Eagle MP	Minister of State for Defence Procurement	In charge of buying new equipment for the armed forces; works with defence companies; oversees defence buildings and technology.
Luke Pollard MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces	Focuses on getting new people to join the forces and making sure they are ready; supports Ukraine; helps with global operations and emergencies.
Alistair Carns MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People	Looks after soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel, including their families and veterans; handles pensions and support groups.

Top Military Leaders

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff.

Defence chiefs at the Coronation of Charles III in 2023

The most important military leader is the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). This person is the professional head of the British Armed Forces. They give military advice to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister.

The CDS works with other senior military leaders, including the heads of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. Together, they form the Chiefs of Staff Committee. This group gives advice on military operations and how to carry them out.

The current Chiefs of Staff are:

Chief of the Defence Staff – Admiral Sir Tony Radakin
Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff – General Sharon Nesmith
First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (Head of the Royal Navy) – General Sir Gwyn Jenkins
Chief of the General Staff (Head of the British Army) – General Sir Roland Walker
Chief of the Air Staff (Head of the Royal Air Force) – Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton
Commander Strategic Command (Head of Strategic Command) – General Sir James Hockenhull

How the MOD Works

The MOD has a clear plan for how the armed forces should operate. This plan includes four main goals:

Protect the UK and its overseas territories.
Provide the nuclear deterrent (a way to prevent attacks).
Help understand the world better through intelligence and global defence networks.
Strengthen international security and work with allies.

The armed forces also help during crises by:

Providing help during natural disasters.
Carrying out special operations.
Working to bring back peace and stability.
Being ready for major combat if needed.

MOD Departments and Agencies

The MOD is made up of several groups and agencies that help it do its work. These include:

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S): This agency buys and supports military equipment.
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl): This group does scientific research for defence.
Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA): This agency is in charge of building and delivering submarines.
UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO): This office creates maps and charts for the seas.

There are also several museums that are part of the MOD, such as the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the National Army Museum, and the Royal Air Force Museum.

MOD Buildings and Land

A British armed forces careers office in Oxford

The Ministry of Defence owns a lot of land across the UK. This land is used for training areas, airfields, barracks (where soldiers live), and storage depots. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation helps manage these properties.

The Main Building

The MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London

The main headquarters of the MOD is a large building in Whitehall, London. It's known as the MOD Main Building. This building was finished in 1959.

Inside the basement of the Main Building is Henry VIII's wine cellar. This old cellar was built in the 1500s. When the MOD building was constructed, the entire cellar was carefully moved to a new spot underground to protect it.