Issue 9 Jan 2009.indd - Ministry of Defence

Building continues as carriers’ in-service date goes back two years
INTRODUCTION INTO service of the
Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers
will be delayed by up to two years, Defence
Secretary John Hutton has announced.
“The new carriers will be brought more
closely into line with the introduction
of the Joint Combat Aircraft, which
will result in a change to the delivery
schedule,” he said.
MORE HELICOPTERS are to
be sent to support operations in
Afghanistan.
Plans to redeploy Merlin
helicopters from Iraq will
mean there will be significantly
more aircraft and flying hours
available to commanders.
The plans form part of the
MOD’s equipment examination
announced on 11 December
which is reprioritising
programmes to better support
current operations.
Other measures announced
include a £70 million investment
to upgrade 12 Lynx Mark 9
helicopters with new engines,
which will free up other aircraft
for other tasks.
The new Future Lynx
helicopters will provide even
greater operational capability
when they come into service in
2014. Defence Secretary John
Hutton visited AgustaWestland
in Yeovil to announce that the
“This is likely to mean delaying the inservice
date of the new carriers by one to
two years (formerly 2014 and 2016). We
are in close consultation with the Aircraft
Carrier Alliance on how this might best
be done.
“Construction is already under way and
will continue with minimal implications
to jobs and industry. The programme will
MOD’s equipment examination has been unveiled. desider looks at the details
Merlin helicopters will be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan as part of the reprioritising of programmes
Helicopters will beef
up front line forces
Merlins to be
redeployed from
Iraq to give
commanders
more options
MOD would require 62 of the
new helicopters over the next
few years.
Mr Hutton said: “Putting our
forces on the front line at the
heart of everything we do is my
priority.
“Crucial to that, is making
sure that we get the best kit to the
people who need it, when they
need it – both in the short and
long term. Investing £70 million
to get more helicopters out to
Afghanistan is similarly about
prioritising the right equipment
for troops on operations.
“And that is why for the
longer term we are investing
in the new aircraft carriers,
Future Lynx helicopters, and
according the highest priority
to delivering the Warrior
Capability Sustainment
Programme and the FRES
Scout Vehicle – investment
totalling £6.5 billion.”
Mr Hutton added that,
after the announcement last
month of £700 million for
nearly 700 more protected
patrol vehicles for Afghanistan,
the equipment examination
had concluded the highest
priority for current operations
is the Warrior Capability
Sustainment Programme and
the FRES scout vehicle.
“We remain committed to
doing more for our people, here
and on the front line – improving
their support and welfare, pay,
medical care, rehabilitation
services and accommodation.”
news 5 news 5
still provide stability for the core shipyard
workforce, including 10,000 UK jobs.”
He added: “We have also reviewed
the MARS fleet auxiliary programme
(marine afloat reach and sustainability),
and have concluded that there is scope for
considering alternative approaches to its
procurement which is likely to involve the
deferral of the fleet tanker element.”
Acquisition
review on
the cards
BETTER VALUE for money in
delivering major acquisition
programmes will be the aim
of a new review.
Defence Secretary John
Hutton has announced the
review to examine progress
with implementing reforms
through the MOD’s Acquisition
Change Programme. It
will also make further
recommendations to secure
better value for money in the
delivery of major acquisition
programmes.
The review will be led by
businessman and journalist
Bernard Gray.
“Tough decisions need
to be made and, with future
value for money in mind, I
have asked Bernard Gray
to conduct a review into our
processes for procuring and
delivering major equipment
programmes to make sure
we deliver projects on time
and on budget,” he said.
The review has been
welcomed by the MOD’s
Permanent Under Secretary
Bill Jeffrey.
“Sir Kevin O’Donoghue
and I want to ensure that we
take full advantage of his
help and expertise to assess
the progress we have made
and what more we still have
to do,” he said in a message
to DE&S staff.
“I am well aware of the
huge amount of work put into
our acquisition effort and the
changes already underway.
The Secretary of State and
I are clear that this review
does not call into question
the direction of travel and
should not divert attention
from ongoing work.”
Mr Gray is a former
special adviser to George
Robertson and defence
correspondent at the
Financial Times.