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The last defence review was in 1998 and took more than a year
Defence chiefs and government ministers are set to discuss the future shape and size of Britain's armed forces.
The National Security Council meeting will consider options for the upcoming strategic defence and security review - but it is not expected to reach any final decisions.
On Monday, Foreign Secretary William Hague said the defence budget - over-committed by £38bn over the next decade - must be dealt with.
The review is due to report next month.
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the National Security Council would debate the main issues and set the direction of travel for the key decisions that need to be taken in the review.
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"The review takes place against a backdrop of extreme disquiet among the forces, who fear the need for cuts to public spending could see vital capabilities slashed and lost forever," she said.
It is understood the review will put Afghanistan first, with current operations ring-fenced and much of the Army's manpower spared until at least 2015, when the UK's combat operations in the country should have finished.
"That means the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force would bear the brunt of the cuts this time round," she added.
No date has been set for the meeting that will take the final decisions.
The review began after the general election. The last review, in 1998, took more than a year.
It is designed to look at the UK's role in the world, evolving threats to the country's interests, the nature of the UK's response to such threats and whether the armed forces are equipped to deal with future challenges.
Annual defence spending in the UK currently stands at about £37bn, which is around 2.5% of GDP. Cuts of 10-20% are expected as part of the government's austerity measures to reduce public spending.
Speculation on possible cuts has ranged from the scrapping of new aircraft carriers to grounding the RAF's entire fleet of more than 70 Tornado jets years earlier than planned.
Earlier this month, the chairman of the Defence Select Committee expressed concern over the speed of the review, saying it could put combat operations and UK security at risk.
James Arbuthnot, a Conservative MP, said his committee was worried the process was money-driven and not taking time to assess the threats to the UK.
Defence Minister Nick Harvey acknowledged the pace of the review was influenced by economic circumstances but said it was a "big picture" exercise that drew on debates that had been going on for some time.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The last defence review was in 1998 and took more than a year Defence chiefs and government ministers are set to discuss the future shape and size of Britain's armed forces.
The National Security Council meeting will consider options for the upcoming strategic defence and security review - but it is not expected to reach any final decisions.
On Monday, Foreign Secretary William Hague said the defence budget - over-committed by £38bn over the next decade - must be dealt with.
The review is due to report next month.
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the National Security Council would debate the main issues and set the direction of travel for the key decisions that need to be taken in the review.
Related stories
"The review takes place against a backdrop of extreme disquiet among the forces, who fear the need for cuts to public spending could see vital capabilities slashed and lost forever," she said.
It is understood the review will put Afghanistan first, with current operations ring-fenced and much of the Army's manpower spared until at least 2015, when the UK's combat operations in the country should have finished.
"That means the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force would bear the brunt of the cuts this time round," she added.
No date has been set for the meeting that will take the final decisions.
The review began after the general election. The last review, in 1998, took more than a year.
It is designed to look at the UK's role in the world, evolving threats to the country's interests, the nature of the UK's response to such threats and whether the armed forces are equipped to deal with future challenges.
Annual defence spending in the UK currently stands at about £37bn, which is around 2.5% of GDP. Cuts of 10-20% are expected as part of the government's austerity measures to reduce public spending.
Speculation on possible cuts has ranged from the scrapping of new aircraft carriers to grounding the RAF's entire fleet of more than 70 Tornado jets years earlier than planned.
Earlier this month, the chairman of the Defence Select Committee expressed concern over the speed of the review, saying it could put combat operations and UK security at risk.
James Arbuthnot, a Conservative MP, said his committee was worried the process was money-driven and not taking time to assess the threats to the UK.
Defence Minister Nick Harvey acknowledged the pace of the review was influenced by economic circumstances but said it was a "big picture" exercise that drew on debates that had been going on for some time.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.