The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

1991-1994: early MDG era
12.3
Chapter 12 – History of RAF In-Service Support (1990-2009)
Figure 12.1 : Pre-1991 – MOD Procurement/ In-Service Support
In 1991, the RAF introduced “Multi-Disciplinary Groups” (MDG). MDGs combined in a single body two of
the support disciplines required to support aircraft in-service, namely Engineering (including airworthiness)
and Logistics. Each aircraft type was effectively ‘project managed’ by its own MDG, although Finance and
Commercial support remained as ‘shared’ Services. The heads of MDGs were predominantly engineers. Even
though the constituent parts of MDGs remained geographically spread out, MDGs yielded benefits in the form
of reduced costs and better aircraft availability. The MOD(PE) retained responsibility for initial acquisition and
major upgrades (see Figure 12.2 below).
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