Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 25
Fifth report: Obsolescent and outgunned: the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability
Published 14 Mar 2021
Paragraph 98
Addressed to Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee Progress in delivering the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The Department must ensure that Project Morpheus is adequately resourced with technically qualified staff to facilitate coordination and integration with its current and planned armoured vehicle programmes. Based on the Department’s track record in the Land sector we are concerned that the programmes necessary to deliver the capability described above will not be delivered in a timely manner and, given the pace of technology development in this field, may be obsolete before it is delivered. In order to retain a shred of credibility the Army must set out the programmes that comprise the capability described above along with a statement on whether each will be delivered in time to provide the capability described and how obsolescence will be avoided. Based on the Department’s track record in the Land sector we are concerned that the programmes necessary to deliver the capability described above will not be delivered in a timely manner and, given the pace of technology development in this field, may be obsolete before it is delivered
From: Defence Committee, Fifth report: Obsolescent and outgunned: the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability (HC 659), paragraph 98, 14 March 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 21 May 2021 (deadline 14 May 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government largely sets out reforms and programme plans in response, noting criticisms of past acquisition, while disagreeing with some points, including that the 40mm weapon system contributed to Ajax delays.
- On past procurement failings, the Department "notes the Committee's comments and acknowledges that defence acquisition has faced challenges in the past", and points to reforms including a three step approvals process.
- On Boxer, it "agrees with the Committee on the desirability of acceleration" and is "intending to accelerate and enhance the programme", to deliver full operational capability by 2030.
- On Challenger 2, it says the Life Extension Project offers better value for money than off-the-shelf alternatives, and that an auto-loader was "considered and dismissed early" on capability and technical feasibility grounds.
- On the Warrior upgrade, it states that a decision "has now been taken as part of the Integrated Review to no longer upgrade Warrior".