Select Committee · Defence Committee

Progress in delivering the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Jul 2020 Closed: 9 Jul 2021 20 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will focus on the procurement and use of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and whether more must be done to ensure the Army’s ability to deploy an armoured division. It will assess how the Army envisages employing AFVs in future operations. This inquiry will: examine the procurement of AFVs, including how much has been … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth report: Obsolescent and outgunned: the British Army’s… HC 659 14 Mar 2021 30 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
27 Recommendation Fifth report: Obsolescent and outgunned… Deferred

We agree that it is important the Ministry of Defence maximises the collaborative opportunities offered...

We agree that it is important the Ministry of Defence maximises the collaborative opportunities offered by the recent investments in the UK’s armoured vehicles sector. The Department should ensure that it leverages these advantages by making a clear decision about its participation in the Main Ground Combat System. A repeat … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states its Future Ground Combat System is in concept phase and will replace capability around 2040. The UK has observer status in the Franco-German MGCS program and is discussing requirements with the US, indicating no clear decision on participation has been made yet.
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Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
3 Nov 2020 Brigadier (ret) Ben Barry · International Institute for Strategic Studies View ↗
20 Oct 2020 Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB · Ministry of Defence, Jeremy Quin MP · Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Christopher Tickell CBE · Ministry of Defence, Mr Chris Bushell · Ministry of Defence View ↗
6 Oct 2020 Carew Wilks · General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, Francis Tusa · Defence Analysis, Lee Fellows · Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill, Nicholas Drummond · Aura Consulting Ltd., Peter Hardisty · Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) View ↗

Who gave evidence

10 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB · Deputy Commander Capability at Air Command Ministry of Defence 1
Brigadier (ret) Ben Barry · Senior Fellow for Land Warfare International Institute for Strategic Studies 1
Carew Wilks · Vice President and General Manager General Dynamics Land Systems-UK 1
Francis Tusa · Editor Defence Analysis 1
Jeremy Quin MP · Minister for Defence Procurement Ministry of Defence 1
Lee Fellows · Vice President and Managing Director Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill 1
Lieutenant General Christopher Tickell CBE · Deputy Chief of the General Staff, British Army Ministry of Defence 1
Mr Chris Bushell · Director General Land, Defence Equipment and Supp… Ministry of Defence 1
Nicholas Drummond · Director Aura Consulting Ltd. 1
Peter Hardisty · Managing Director Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
21 May 2021 Letter dated 21 May 2021 from the Chair to the Minister for Defence Procurement…