Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Paragraph: 108
This report reveals a woeful story of bureaucratic procrastination, military indecision, financial mismanagement and general...
Conclusion
This report reveals a woeful story of bureaucratic procrastination, military indecision, financial mismanagement and general ineptitude, which have continually bedevilled attempts to properly re-equip the British Army over the last two decades. Even on the MoD’s own current plans (but subject to the Integrated Review), we are still some four years away from even being able to field a “warfighting division”, which, itself, would now be hopelessly under-equipped and denuded of even a third combat brigade.
Paragraph Reference:
108
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Whilst there is some truth that there has been a lack of emphasis on the core AFV programme, the Department’s pre-eminent focus on delivering large-scale, urgent operational requirements for the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan and its achievement in doing so should not be overlooked. Large scale, urgent operational requirements for specialist vehicles, armour upgrades and specialist equipment6 were developed and delivered at record pace, but this naturally consumed financial resource, specialist personnel, time and importantly focus away from modernisation activity. This scenario was repeated in other allied nations and who are now also rapidly modernising. The Integrated Review has set the British Army on a course of radical transformation. Under ‘Future Soldier’ the Army will transform to become one that is more agile, more integrated and more expeditionary – ready for the next challenge, not the last. Two Heavy Brigade Combat Teams will be formed from the modernisation of two Armoured Infantry Brigades. Over the next decade these will be equipped with Ajax armoured reconnaissance, Challenger 3 Main Battle Tanks and Boxer mechanised infantry vehicles. As part of this modernisation the intent is for Boxer programme to be accelerated and enhanced to deliver full operational capability by 2030.