Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
1
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
We welcome the establishment of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which will be one of the UK’s most significant defence programmes over the next decade and beyond. If delivered as planned, GCAP will enable the UK to retain national sovereignty in combat air, providing a vital military capability in …
Government response. The government welcomes the committee's assessment, confirming GCAP's military and strategic importance and reiterating its role in retaining national sovereignty and developing the Defence Industrial Strategy.
Ministry of Defence
2
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
The Committee’s visits to Japan and Italy inspired great confidence in the commitment and capabilities of both our international partners. In particular, recognising that involvement in GCAP entails a significant step both politically and militarily for Japan, the Committee was impressed by the depth of the Japanese offer and the …
Government response. The government shares the committee’s positive assessment of Japan and Italy's commitment and capabilities, noting their extensive technological and industrial contributions and effective, existing relationships within the GCAP partnership.
Ministry of Defence
3
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
An open-minded but cautious approach should be taken to including new international partners within GCAP. The potential benefits will need to be weighed carefully against the risks, with any proposed partnering opportunity carefully assessed on its own merits. Any additional partnering arrangements that could jeopardise the 2035 in-service date should …
Government response. The government agrees with the cautious approach to new partners, stating that the UK, Japan, and Italy are already clear that any additions must be driven by programme needs and the agreed timeline.
Ministry of Defence
4
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
Given the ambitious timescales for GCAP, its delivery structures at the Governmental and industrial levels will need to be sufficiently empowered to take timely and binding decisions as the programme progresses. A repeat of the structural failings which contributed to unnecessary delay and cost on the Eurofighter Typhoon would place …
Government response. The government agrees that an empowered joint delivery organisation is essential, noting the recently ratified Treaty for the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) provides this framework, and all partners are committed to implementing its spirit of empowerment.
Ministry of Defence
5
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
We support an element of flexibility in workshare arrangements for GCAP, whilst also recognising the need for all three nations involved to be, and be seen to be, equal partners over the course of the programme. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)
Government response. The government outlines that the GCAP partnership, through its Joint Venture, inherently allows for flexibility in workshare while ensuring effective contributions from each nation and promoting greater cooperation.
Ministry of Defence
6
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
Care must be taken to ensure that any flexibility around workshare is exercised within a clearly defined framework to avoid unnecessarily reopening negotiations and introducing delay. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37) Affordability
Government response. The government explains that the GCAP partnership and its Joint Venture already provide a clearly defined framework for flexibility in workshare, designed to ensure effective contributions without introducing delays.
Ministry of Defence
7
Recommendation
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
With the defence budget under increasing pressure, it is incumbent on both Government and industry to keep tight control of costs as GCAP progresses. As more detailed information on programme costs becomes available, it must be made available to Parliament and the public in a timely and transparent manner to …
Government response. The government commits to transparency and updating Parliament on programme delivery, acknowledges the need for tight cost control and is actively pursuing means to manage costs, but does not address the multi-year funding arrangement.
Ministry of Defence
8
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
If political and public support for GCAP is to be maintained, it is essential that the Government not only makes the case for its necessity as a military capability, but also promotes the broader economic benefits that it will bring. (Recommendation, Paragraph 48)
Government response. The government agrees on the importance of promoting GCAP's economic benefits and states it is already delivering and will continue to highlight these, citing current investments, job creation, and export strength.
Ministry of Defence
9
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Acknowledged
The Committee was greatly encouraged by Japan’s recognition of the importance of exports to their GCAP partners. Nonetheless, Japan’s inexperience as a defence exporter is likely to present unique challenges for GCAP which were not in evidence for Typhoon. The UK government must continue to support and encourage Japan in …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of exportability, states future exports are recognized in the GCAP treaty, and expresses confidence that partners are implementing necessary policy measures to achieve export goals.
Ministry of Defence
10
Recommendation
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
Our recent report on Developing AI Expertise and Capacity in UK Defence examined some of the challenges and opportunities presented by the use of artificial intelligence in defence. These are not exclusive to the air domain, 30 but they will need to be carefully managed as GCAP progresses. The Government …
Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation, stating GCAP is being designed with a continuous spiral upgrade approach, defence-wide architecture, and data standards to accommodate and advance AI and autonomous technologies.
Ministry of Defence
11
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
There are many unresolved questions about how best to harness Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs) alongside the existing and future combat fleet, with the development of advanced uncrewed platforms in particular requiring significant further work. Given these uncertainties it is essential that sufficient flexibility is built into GCAP to allow for …
Government response. The government agrees, stating GCAP's design approach supports continuous spiral upgrades and integrated operation with uncrewed platforms, enabled by defence-wide architecture and data standards.
Ministry of Defence
12
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Acknowledged
The Hawk trainer aircraft has been a UK defence export success story, but with domestic production lines closing four years ago the skills and manufacturing capacity which had built up over decades will prove challenging and costly to regenerate. We recognise that innovative training solutions, including modular aircraft and synthetics, …
Government response. The government acknowledges that further investment is needed for the Hawk T2 to meet its 2040 out-of-service date and is currently assessing alternative options for the program.
Ministry of Defence
13
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
Building and maintaining a skilled workforce will be crucial to GCAP’s success. With the defence industry facing fierce competition from other sectors for skilled workers, it is essential that a holistic approach is taken to recruitment and retention. GCAP offers a welcome opportunity to attract new talent into the UK’s …
Government response. The government details proactive measures to grow the skills pipeline, including co-funding the FCAS Technology Initiative R&D, working with academia and STEM initiatives, and efforts to retain staff and generate skills across the supply chain.
Ministry of Defence
14
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Accepted
Retention of the existing Typhoon manufacturing workforce, made more challenging by dwindling production runs and the gap until full-scale production of Tempest is underway, must be a priority; and securing further Typhoon export orders to ensure a consistent pipeline of production will be critical to achieving this goal. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
Government response. The government is actively investing in Typhoon, supporting industry in pursuing several major export campaigns, placing domestic orders for more aircraft, and BAE Systems has a plan to deploy staff across programs to retain the workforce.
Ministry of Defence
15
Conclusion
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Prog…
Acknowledged
Whilst progress to date has been positive, previous multilateral defence programmes have frequently seen costs spiral and delays pile up and GCAP will have to break the mould if it is to achieve its ambitious target date. Decisions made at this early stage around partnerships, delivery structures and workshare by …
Government response. The government expresses gratitude for the report and affirms GCAP has been designed to learn lessons from previous programs, acknowledging the importance of the program and commitment to working with partners and Parliament.
Ministry of Defence