Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Rapid innovation requires quicker procurement and shorter equipment lifecycles for continued relevance.
Conclusion
The speed of innovation seen in Ukraine has highlighted that quicker procurement is important to ensure that new equipment is not already out of date by the time the armed forces deploy it.27 The Department explained that this requires a change in mindset. It will become more common for programmes to end sooner, or even be abandoned, because the pace of innovation and the new, higher-threat environment, means they are no longer relevant. It also means that equipment will have a shorter shelf life than the Armed Forces have been used to, because the Department will need to update capabilities continually to meet evolving requirements.28 Improving defence procurement
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 16 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗