Mr Robathan said the government would ensure the reserve forces had modern equipment and vehicles to make the change possible but he said it would require a change in the attitudes of society and the regular armed forces.

BBC: Tory backbenchers criticise plan to cut regular army

The Ministry of Defence said the cost of repatriating equipment from Afghanistan would be met by the Treasury's Special Reserve - traditionally used to pay for in-theatre operations - rather than the defence budget.

BBC: Defence equipment budget 'may be unaffordable'