Original version

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Army: Behind the New Frontlines

Documentaries

Factual

A look at the British Army, showing the challenges of fighting wars when we are not at war

Filmed over 18 months, this series goes into the heart of the British Army. Through the eyes of the rank and file and the leaders, it shows the challenges of fighting wars when we are not at war.

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Two England

England

Army: Behind the New Frontlines: Series 1

David Harewood

Wayne Roberts

Martin Thompson

James Calderwood

Simon Battersby

Paul Hamann

Tom Anstiss

Matthew Haan

Richard Wyllie

Gemma Comber

Elizabeth Lee

Bianca Marks

Lara Oheimer

Bec Hill

Ben Newth

Graeme Hayes

Wild Pictures

Jonathan Low

Army: Behind the New Frontlines: Series 1: Episode 2: The New Cold War

The New Cold War

Episode 2

Episode 2: The New Cold War

Series 1

BBC Two - Army: Behind the New Frontlines, Series 1, The New Cold War

The army is sent to Estonia, on the frontline of a new cold war.

A look inside the British army. The army is sent to Estonia, on the frontline of a new cold war. Can they deter Russian expansion and avoid a costly war?

The British army in 2017 is in uncharted territory. They have not been at war for three years. After controversial campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is political and public opposition to military intervention overseas. The army's budgets are under pressure and they have the smallest troop numbers since the days of Cromwell. But now with the rise of the so-called Islamic State, the threat of a new cold war in Eastern Europe and famine and conflict in Africa, the British army have to play a new role in a deeply unstable world. Filmed over 18 months, this series goes into the heart of the British army. Through the eyes of the rank and file and the leaders, it shows the challenges of fighting wars, when we are not at war.

In this episode, the army is sent to Estonia, on the frontline of a new cold war. As Russia flexes its muscles in Ukraine and there is a massive build up of troops across Eastern Europe, the risk of miscalculation is very real. Can the British army deter Russian expansion and avoid being drawn into a costly new war?

British soldiers from 5 Rifles are in Canada. They are training for a planned NATO operation along the Russian border. In the last decade, 5 Rifles fought insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq but now, as relationships between the West and Russia have deteriorated, they will be facing a much more formidable enemy. Since Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000, Russia has rebuilt its military might. It has 770,000 soldiers, more tanks than any other country and spends a third of its national budget on defence.

By contrast, the British army has been hit by years of austerity cuts, leaving it a quarter of the size it was 50 years ago. General Sir Nicholas Carter, head of the British army, oversees the biggest budget cuts the army has faced in decades. He must make difficult decisions about how best to spend the army's reduced resources and be creative about how it protects Britain from its enemies.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Army: Behind the New Frontlines

Series 1

Episode 2: The New Cold War

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Wales

About BBC Two