Extracts from statement (Commons and Lords) on Army Restructuring: Future Soldier - Nov 25
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Extract from Commons statement on Army Restructuring: Future
Soldier John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab):...The Defence
Secretary has described the new Ajax armoured vehicle as the
“nucleus” of our modernised war-fighting capability, yet his
Minister has now admitted that there is “no realistic timescale”
for getting Ajax into service. Why did the Defence Secretary scrap
Warrior, scale back Challenger and double down on Ajax when the MOD
knew that there were...Request free
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Extract from Commons statement on Army Restructuring: Future Soldier John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab):...The Defence Secretary has described the new Ajax armoured vehicle as the “nucleus” of our modernised war-fighting capability, yet his Minister has now admitted that there is “no realistic timescale” for getting Ajax into service. Why did the Defence Secretary scrap Warrior, scale back Challenger and double down on Ajax when the MOD knew that there were serious problems? What is the plan to provide the Army with kit it needs now if it has to contribute to a major conflict? The Secretary of State cannot say he has reduced the role of the Army; he cannot say the Army already has the high-tech kit it needs to replace boots on the ground; and he cannot say the threats to the UK have diminished—indeed, today he said they are proliferating—yet he is still cutting the Army’s established strength by 9,000 over the next three years, and that is on top of 16,000 soldiers cut since 2010...
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben
Wallace):...On equipment, I hear what the hon. Gentleman
says. I have been clear that I feel that Ajax is
a troubled programme and I have been incredibly open about the
problems it faces. I will not hesitate to take difficult
decisions. There are other programmes that I am deeply worried
about, some of which are long programmes—too long—and some of
which are on my watch or my predecessor’s watch. I am determined
that the way forward is a transparent discussion and openness.
The MOD has often been a victim of suspicion because it will not
talk to anyone about anything. I am not that way inclined and I
or my Minister for Defence Procurement, my hon. Friend the Member
for Horsham (Jeremy Quin), will be quick to come to the
House and explain all the issues faced by that and other
programmes.
Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con): The British Army cannot fight without effective kit,
but the Public Accounts: Committee has declared the MOD’s
procurement system “broken”, which it is, and has described
the General
Dynamics Ajax programme as a catastrophe. The next
debacle is the Morpheus programme to replace Bowman, which also
has General
Dynamics effectively in the lead, and is horribly
late and going round in circles as Bowman becomes increasingly
obsolescent. Will the Secretary of State take personal grip of
Ajax and Morpheus? What steps is he taking to
ensure that his officials who brief him on those programmes tell
him the truth? Extracts from Lords repeat of Commons statement on Army Restructuring: Future Soldier The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Goldie) (Con):...Likewise, we are transitioning to Boxer armoured personnel carriers from the retiring Warrior, with units receiving vehicles from 2023. We are resolving development issues with the troubled, but none the less technically capable, Ajax armoured reconnaissance vehicle. We are upgrading the battle-proven Apache attack helicopters, while investing in everything from long-range precision strike ground-based air defence, to uncrewed aerial systems, electronic warfare and tactical cyber. These cutting-edge capabilities will be wielded by the newly restructured brigade combat teams: self-sufficient tactical formations with their own combat support and logistics. They will include 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and a new aviation brigade combat team, which together will form our global response force providing defence’s rapid response to crises overseas.. Lord Coaker (Lab):...The procurement and delivery of armoured vehicles, which are vital to the protection of infantry on the ground, are also in disarray. The number of Challenger main battle tanks due to be upgraded has been reduced, the Warrior capability sustainment programme has been axed, and its replacement, Boxer, is unproven. Notwithstanding the remarks the Minister made in the Statement, can she give a further update to the Chamber on how these various programmes and their replacements are progressing? The £5.5 billion Ajax programme is more than four years late on its in-service date and has been beset by noise and excessive vibration problems, resulting in injured personnel. So far, just 14 have been delivered, at a cost of approximately £3.5 billion. Could the Minister give us an update on the current situation with Ajax?
Baroness Smith of Newnham
(LD):..Finally, on capabilities—sorry, it is not
finally, I have two more points. On capabilities, the Statement
says: Baroness Goldie (Con):...The noble Lord asked specifically about Ajax. That remains at the heart of the Army’s plans for a modernised fleet of armoured vehicles for the future. We are not underestimating the challenges which have emerged in the developmental stage, but that is not in any way to diminish the potential of what will be a hugely important addition to our capability. As the noble Lord knows, the MoD and General Dynamics are currently working on and committed to identifying the root causes of the noise and vibration issues, and want to deliver a safe solution. So, rather than being pessimistic about equipment, I think that we can be very optimistic. It is part of a conjunction: not only do we have to get the correct configuration of the Army but we have to make sure, as I said in repeating the Statement, that it has the equipment that it needs...
Earl Attlee (Con):...Though there are
numerous questions to ask about defence policy, I will ask three.
It was said in the Statement that we will Lord Berkeley (Lab): My Lords, there are many things in the Minister’s Statement that I welcome, and a more high-tech, more professional military with the most modern equipment is something that I think we all welcome. What worries me is that the Statement mentioned the word “global” four times. Do we really think we are a global power any more? We have one aircraft carrier, I think, which is fiddling around in the China Sea; maybe it has some Ajax tanks on trial there, but do we think we are going to invade China with it? We are getting to be a bit naive on this. Surely the time has come to get rid of some of this gear and concentrate on the humanitarian elements that the Army does and has done so very well, and to cut out some of these vanity projects that, to me, are just a massive waste of money... |