It's not only on State occasions that the Household Cavalry plays a leading role. On operations the armoured reconnaissance regiment, consisting of squadrons of The Life Guards and of The Blues and Royals, leads. It is no idle boast that the Household Cavalry is at the forefront of the British Army. They are the eyes and ears of the force commander and it is their job to find out where the enemy is and in what strength, where the obstacles are and where there are ways through and ahead. Therefore they take the lead in any force as they did going into Kosovo. At times they must be prepared to destroy the enemy. Their success depends not only on their mechanical competence but also on stealth, guile and physical fitness.

The Regiments vehicles - Scimitar, Striker, Spartan - allow their crews to see, hear and report back directly to the force commander. Each vehicle is built for speed and agility so that it can get close to the enemy without being seen and relay information about their position and strength. This gives the force commander (whether brigadier or general) the vital information he needs to plan future action. If contact is made with the enemy, each vehicle is equipped with the necessary firepower - whether 30mm cannon, guided missile or machine gun - to defend itself and cause serious damage to the enemy.
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