Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
1
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
With the prospect of UK involvement in a major war on the European continent closer than it has been for decades, there are serious questions as to whether the UK’s reduced combat air fleet still provides a sufficient deterrent and whether its limited numbers of admittedly highly capable aircraft could …
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With the prospect of UK involvement in a major war on the European continent closer than it has been for decades, there are serious questions as to whether the UK’s reduced combat air fleet still provides a sufficient deterrent and whether its limited numbers of admittedly highly capable aircraft could overcome a peer adversary in a warfighting context. These questions arise not only in the context of the UK’s sovereign capability, but also in relation to its contribution to any wider alliance.
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Government response AI summary
The government asserts that its current combat air fleet, reinforced by investments from the 2021/2023 Defence Command Paper and its contribution to NATO, already provides a sufficient deterrent and warfighting capability. It argues that effectiveness is not solely determined by aircraft numbers but by multi-domain …
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Ministry of Defence
4
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
The MoD must be transparent and realistic about the eventual size of the F-35 fleet, recognising that the planned deferral of this decision to the middle of this decade will damage the ability of UK industry to maintain an ongoing production capacity for combat air, and should also make clear …
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The MoD must be transparent and realistic about the eventual size of the F-35 fleet, recognising that the planned deferral of this decision to the middle of this decade will damage the ability of UK industry to maintain an ongoing production capacity for combat air, and should also make clear whether it is attributed to the Royal Navy or the RAF. When deciding whether to purchase further F-35s, the MoD should carefully consider the advantages that would be offered by a mixed fleet of F-35A and B variant aircraft. The MoD should also clarify whether its intention is that the fleet will routinely be deployed alongside US Marine Corps F-35Bs on UK carriers.
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Government response AI summary
The government confirms Tranche 1 (48 aircraft by 2025) and Tranche 2 (27 aircraft, early next decade) purchases, and will consider the eventual F-35 fleet size and variant choice in the mid-2020s as part of the next Strategic Defence Review. It clarifies the Lightning force …
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Ministry of Defence
6
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) offer a cost-effective means of increasing combat mass. As we identified in our 2021 report “We’re Going to Need a Bigger Navy”, the role of UAS within the force mix on the UK’s aircraft carriers remains unresolved. This may have implications for decisions around the eventual …
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Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) offer a cost-effective means of increasing combat mass. As we identified in our 2021 report “We’re Going to Need a Bigger Navy”, the role of UAS within the force mix on the UK’s aircraft carriers remains unresolved. This may have implications for decisions around the eventual size of the F-35 fleet. The MoD must rapidly progress its work to develop and deploy UAS alongside the Aviation Procurement: Winging it? 41 UK’s existing combat air fleet. Publication of the Autonomous Collaborative Platform strategy should be accompanied by clear (and ambitious) timescales and an adequate funding commitment for a UAS capability programme. (Paragraph 47) Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)
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Government response AI summary
The RAF has completed its Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) Strategy, which includes ambitious, time-bounded targets for delivery of air vehicles and key technology enablers, and will publish it in the near future. The strategy will focus on delivering ultra low-cost air vehicles in the near …
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Ministry of Defence
7
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
With only a limited number of (comparatively vulnerable) fixed and mobile land- based radars on UK soil, all of which would be primary targets for our opponents were the current Ukraine conflict to escalate, the capability gap in Airborne Early Warning & Control coverage created by the retirement of the …
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With only a limited number of (comparatively vulnerable) fixed and mobile land- based radars on UK soil, all of which would be primary targets for our opponents were the current Ukraine conflict to escalate, the capability gap in Airborne Early Warning & Control coverage created by the retirement of the E-3 Sentry and compounded by the delays to the E-7 Wedgetail and Crowsnest programmes presents a serious threat to the UK’s warfighting ability.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the Wedgetail programme, with a £2 billion procurement and further £2 billion sustainment investment, will provide a step change in Airborne Early Warning and Control capability. It acknowledges an increased risk during the transition but prioritises enabling NATO operations once Wedgetail …
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Ministry of Defence
10
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
The Ukraine war has underlined the importance of a thriving and resilient domestic defence industry. The Government must ensure that where it buys equipment off- the-shelf, it demands meaningful and sustainable investment in the UK from contractors in return, and holds them rigorously to account for fulfilling their pledges. (Paragraph …
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The Ukraine war has underlined the importance of a thriving and resilient domestic defence industry. The Government must ensure that where it buys equipment off- the-shelf, it demands meaningful and sustainable investment in the UK from contractors in return, and holds them rigorously to account for fulfilling their pledges. (Paragraph 63) Air mobility
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Government response AI summary
The government states it already applies the Cabinet Office Social Value Model to all in-scope competitive procurements to ensure contractor investment in the UK. It also actively engages with industry to de-risk critical defence supply chain vulnerabilities and identifies critical pinch points.
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Ministry of Defence
11
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
One of the most significant cuts in the Defence Command paper was the early retirement of the C-130J Hercules fleet some seven years before its planned out-of- service date. Our witnesses were almost unanimously critical of this decision, which has significantly reduced the overall capacity of the air mobility fleet, …
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One of the most significant cuts in the Defence Command paper was the early retirement of the C-130J Hercules fleet some seven years before its planned out-of- service date. Our witnesses were almost unanimously critical of this decision, which has significantly reduced the overall capacity of the air mobility fleet, undermined the Integrated Review’s “Global Britain” objective, and created a capability gap which could hamper Special Forces. We find it deeply unsatisfactory that the Government has sought to hide behind the cloak of secrecy which covers Special Forces to limit meaningful scrutiny of the capability decisions which will affect their operations. (Paragraph 84) 42 Aviation Procurement: Winging it?
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges a short-term drop in air mobility capacity due to the C-130J Hercules retirement but states critical operational commitments are being met by accelerating the transfer of capability to the Atlas A400M. It offers regular updates on the Atlas A400M and F-35 programmes …
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Ministry of Defence
12
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
The RAF has been left scrambling to migrate essential capabilities onto the A400M Atlas and will be reliant on this aircraft which, however capable it may be on paper, has a poor track record of reliability. We intend to closely scrutinise the performance of the A400M. In its response to …
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The RAF has been left scrambling to migrate essential capabilities onto the A400M Atlas and will be reliant on this aircraft which, however capable it may be on paper, has a poor track record of reliability. We intend to closely scrutinise the performance of the A400M. In its response to this report the MoD should commit to providing this Committee with six-monthly updates on the availability of the A400M fleet. (Paragraph 85) Flying Training
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to provide regular updates on the availability of the A400M fleet, proposing to combine them with the existing six-monthly F-35 programme updates.
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Ministry of Defence
13
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
Flying training is undoubtedly complex. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton observed that “if you take your eye off it for a moment, it can get out of the tolerances that you set” and it is clear to us that for too long, the senior leadership of the RAF has …
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Flying training is undoubtedly complex. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton observed that “if you take your eye off it for a moment, it can get out of the tolerances that you set” and it is clear to us that for too long, the senior leadership of the RAF has been looking in the wrong direction. The result of this complacency is simple: a reduction in the MoD’s ability to produce combat-ready aircrew within expected timescales, with serious implications for the effectiveness of our armed forces and for pilot morale. The delays and backlogs of recent years have been completely unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges delays in pilot training and has taken concerted action with industry to rectify Hawk engine availability issues. It has also reinforced leadership of pilot training at a 3-star level and created a quarterly Aircrew Pipeline Steering Group, offering regular updates on trainee …
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Ministry of Defence
14
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
The former Chief of the Air Staff told us that current delays will be resolved by mid-2024, and we will hold the MoD and the RAF’s senior leadership accountable for delivering on that promise. In its response to this report, and then on a quarterly basis to the end of …
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The former Chief of the Air Staff told us that current delays will be resolved by mid-2024, and we will hold the MoD and the RAF’s senior leadership accountable for delivering on that promise. In its response to this report, and then on a quarterly basis to the end of 2024, the MoD should provide this Committee with updates on the number of pilots holding between courses at each stage of the flying training pipeline as well as the average time taken for a pilot to pass through each stage.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to provide regular updates to the Committee on pilot holding numbers within the flying training pipeline, stating they are committed to reducing these to optimum levels.
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Ministry of Defence
15
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
Changes to the number of frontline seats are a routine feature of Defence reviews. Whilst they will unavoidably have some impact on the training pipeline, this must be managed so that any consequential backlogs are minimal. A flying training model which cannot adapt to changed crewing requirements without introducing years …
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Changes to the number of frontline seats are a routine feature of Defence reviews. Whilst they will unavoidably have some impact on the training pipeline, this must be managed so that any consequential backlogs are minimal. A flying training model which cannot adapt to changed crewing requirements without introducing years of delay for pilots is clearly not fit for purpose. The MoD should set out in its response to this report how it will ensure that the flying training pipeline is sufficiently flexible to adapt to future changes in requirement whilst still representing value for money for the taxpayer.
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Government response AI summary
The government is introducing initiatives to increase flying training flexibility, including significant capacity improvements in synthetic training and a live-virtual construct. The UK also joined the NATO Flying Training Europe (NFTE) initiative in October 2023 to pool training resources with allies, aiming to improve value …
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Ministry of Defence
16
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
Fast-jet training in particular has suffered a significant reduction in capacity due to a lack of aircraft availability. As a result, the MoD will spend over £55 million sending pilots overseas for training whilst the contractors responsible will face no financial penalty, a farcical situation which only underlines the requirement …
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Fast-jet training in particular has suffered a significant reduction in capacity due to a lack of aircraft availability. As a result, the MoD will spend over £55 million sending pilots overseas for training whilst the contractors responsible will face no financial penalty, a farcical situation which only underlines the requirement for the MoD to better resource its legal and commercial teams, as we identified in our recent report on defence procurement. We recommend that the MoD carry out a full review of contractual arrangements and processes across the flying training model, identifying areas where contracts can be streamlined and processes simplified, and ensuring that contractors are liable for costs incurred by their failures.
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Government response AI summary
The government declined a full review, stating that existing contractual arrangements are already subject to regular amendments and refinements. It confirmed it is already conducting a targeted review of the incentive structure within the existing contractual framework.
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Ministry of Defence
17
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
Synthetic training offers many benefits, but live flying cannot be replaced, and we are concerned that the RAF’s stated intention for 80% of flying training to be synthetic by 2040 will be sub-optimal for both pilots and ground crew. The MoD should review the planned 80/20 mix of synthetic and …
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Synthetic training offers many benefits, but live flying cannot be replaced, and we are concerned that the RAF’s stated intention for 80% of flying training to be synthetic by 2040 will be sub-optimal for both pilots and ground crew. The MoD should review the planned 80/20 mix of synthetic and live flying training, with particular regard to the implications for ground crew and engineers, and the increased need for Aviation Procurement: Winging it? 43 warfighting readiness in view of the European security situation. The MoD should also ensure that the proposed mix is broadly in alignment with the approach taken across NATO. (Paragraph 111)
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Government response AI summary
The government stated it is not planning an 80/20 synthetic to live flying training mix, explaining that the optimal balance is constantly reviewed and varies by platform. It also affirmed that the needs of RAF technicians are under continuous review and the UK's approach aligns …
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Ministry of Defence
19
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Wi…
Accepted
Although these risks were acknowledged in the Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCPR), the actions taken to address them are totally inadequate to the scale of the challenge. The DCPR stands as a missed opportunity to reverse the deeply damaging cuts of 2021: the Royal Air Force, as with all our …
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Although these risks were acknowledged in the Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCPR), the actions taken to address them are totally inadequate to the scale of the challenge. The DCPR stands as a missed opportunity to reverse the deeply damaging cuts of 2021: the Royal Air Force, as with all our Armed Forces, must be afforded the funding and equipment it needs to properly carry out its critical role in protecting our nation. (Paragraph 126) 44 Aviation Procurement: Winging it?
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Government response AI summary
The government defends its current funding allocation for Defence, citing a £24 billion increase over four years, and asserts that the RAF is being modernised and transformed through existing investment to remain capable for current and future threats.
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Ministry of Defence