Extract from Commons debate on the UK Defence Spending - June 24
Friday, 25 June 2021 08:29
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con):...We have AJAX which, I know,
has been the subject of debate in this House, but it is a
purpose-built platform and, like many other state of the art
protected mobility platforms, it will be the best on the market. We
have Type 26 frigates, Type 31 frigates, the fleet solid support
ships and so much more... Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op):...On
the ground, there are real concerns about delivering capability. I
am sure that all Members of this House will...Request free trial
(Bracknell) (Con):...We have AJAX which, I know, has been the
subject of debate in this House, but it is a purpose-built platform
and, like many other state of the art protected mobility platforms,
it will be the best on the market. We have Type 26 frigates, Type
31 frigates, the fleet solid support ships and so much more...
(Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op):...On the ground, there are
real concerns about delivering capability. I am sure that all
Members of this House will have heard and worried about the
problems with AJAX recently, which cannot be
ignored. It is a long-standing issue. The AJAX vehicle has been repeatedly
delayed and beset by problems. Nearly four years after the vehicle
was first expected, only 14 have been delivered, at a cost of
nearly £3.5 billion. Worryingly, personnel have needed medical
attention after being inside them. As we heard yesterday in the
Defence Committee, they cannot fire accurately on the
move.
The delay on the vehicles’ delivery has left our armed forces
inadequately equipped and unable to properly plan for the future.
That is worsened by the cancellation of the Warrior project earlier
in the year, which resulted in a larger reliance on the
AJAX delivery to ensure that the
Army was equipped with some modern vehicles. Our armed forces had
to adapt in the light of the Warrior cancellation, and now they
have been left without any new vehicles that work safely or are
reliable. As it stands, the current armoured vehicle capability of
the UK is perfectly summed up by the title of the Defence Committee
report: “Obsolescent and outgunned”...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
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