Britain’s Armed Forces are ‘damaged’, damning report reveals
Britain have to be prepared for battle with Russia however is let down by a “broken” system for arming the navy that places personnel in hurt’s manner, a damning report claims at present.
Westminster’s defence committee warns the UK might discover itself preventing Russia with little warning or alternative to construct up navy and industrial capabilities.
It is anxious the nation has an “extremely limited” reserve of “fighting equipment” together with:
– Warships;
– Modern armoured automobiles;
– Combat plane.
The MPs warn: “With a war in Europe now raging on the eastern border of Europe, we can no longer afford, strategically, militarily, or financially to continue the broken procurement system which we have been operating for decades. If we are to keep our nation safe, our adversaries deterred and our allies reassured we now urgently require full-scale reform of the way we be buy and support our fighting equipment.
“In short, it is broke–and it’s time to fix it.”
High-profile fiascos have satisfied the MPs that the way in which Britain arms its navy is “crying out for change”.
They single out failures surrounding the commissioning of the Ajax armoured automobiles. When the programme started in 2010 it was anticipated these would enter service in 2017. But in March the Government admitted Ajax will not be anticipated to have full working functionality till between October 2028 and September 2029.
Trials had been suspended in November 2020 on account of considerations about extreme noise and 4 individuals had been medically discharged. The report requires a rigorous overhaul of the Army’s security system.
They declare delays in anti-submarine Type 26 frigates to the “comes at a cost of £233 million”. It additionally says the £1.89 billion deal to order three of E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control plane is “extremely poor value for money”.
The MPs describe defence procurement as “highly bureaucratic, overly stratified, far too ponderous, with an inconsistent approach to safety, very poor accountability and a culture which appears institutionally averse to individual responsibility”.
They name on the Ministry of Defence to “stop rewarding failure,” saying: “On too many occasions, the industry has been able to delay programmes with no financial sanctions. There is a reluctance from every part of the procurement system to cancel a failing programme.”
Former defence minister Mark Francois, who chaired the six-month investigation, stated: “Bureaucratic buck-passing and the shirking of responsibility has meant that there is all too often no one to hold personally accountable when highly expensive programmes fail… Worst of all, this dysfunction has put armed forces personnel in harm’s way, with some troops suffering permanent injuries.”
Labour shadow defence procurement minister Chris Evans stated: “If this was in the private sector heads would roll but unfortunately nothing seems to happen. It is deeply concerning at a time of great threat in Europe we don’t have the capabilities we need but this is down to years of neglect.”
An MOD spokeswoman stated: “Defence procurement is not broken. There is no evidence to suggest poor oversight on the Type 26 programme, and through decisions on E-7, we have made savings of £720million.
“We are delivering next-generation capabilities on programmes across the defence portfolio, including Ajax which is now delivering vehicles for the British Army. With £5billion over the next two years to improve readiness and resilience, we continue to ensure we deliver world-leading equipment and provide our people with the capabilities our armed forces need.”
“With an uplift of £5billion over the next two years to improve readiness and resilience, we continue to ensure we deliver world-leading equipment and provide our people with the capabilities our armed forces need.”