Extract from topical defence questions: Ajax - Sep 20

Tuesday, 21 September 2021 07:05

John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab): I want to ask the Defence Secretary about the AJAX armoured vehicle, the biggest defence procurement failure since the Nimrod. What did the Defence Secretary know about the AJAX flaws when he published the integrated review in his Defence White Paper in March, scrapping Warrior, scaling back Challenger and fully backing AJAX The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace): I know that this was a troubled programme; I have never resiled from that...Request free trial

John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab): I want to ask the Defence Secretary about the AJAX armoured vehicle, the biggest defence procurement failure since the Nimrod. What did the Defence Secretary know about the AJAX flaws when he published the integrated review in his Defence White Paper in March, scrapping Warrior, scaling back Challenger and fully backing AJAX

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace): I know that this was a troubled programme; I have never resiled from that at all in this House. In fact, as the right hon. Member will know, since I took over this job we have been determined to open up the programme and get to the bottom of its failings. We will shortly come to the House with more detail on that. Going right back to March 2010, this has been a troubled programme that needs to be fixed. Can it be fixed? That is what we are working to do. It is nothing to do with linking Warrior and the others, which the right hon. Member is trying to make the case for.

John Healey: This is not just another troubled programme or another piece of Army kit. The Secretary of State’s defence White Paper confirms that AJAX is fundamental to the future of British ground forces. Our NATO allies in Europe already see a Prime Minister with the hots for his Indo-Pacific tilt. Now AJAX alongside the AUKUS nuclear propulsion pact, raises serious concerns over Britain’s sustained contribution and commitment to NATO. What is the Secretary of State doing to settle those concerns?

Mr Wallace: First of all, what the right hon. Member has missed is that I committed to and brought forward the buying of Boxer, which is a German-British-Dutch project that will be made in Telford, providing jobs. I also brought forward the Challenger 3 upgrade, with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land—a German company partnering with a British company to provide jobs. That is a strong, solid, metallic commitment to Europe. At the same time, we press forward with the future combat air system with Italy and Sweden.