Progress in delivering the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability

Defence Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 16 Jul 2020 Closed: 9 Jul 2021 Parliament page
This inquiry will focus on the procurement and use of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and whether more must be done to ensure the Army’s ability to deploy an armoured division. It will assess how the Army envisages employing AFVs in future operations. This inquiry will: examine the procurement of AFVs, … Read more
20 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 6 events
21 May
2021
Report published
21 May
2021
Correspondence
14 Mar
2021
Report published
3 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
20 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
6 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
3 Nov 2020
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Brigadier (ret) Ben Barry · International Institute for Strategic Studies
20 Oct 2020
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Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB · Ministry of Defence Jeremy Quin MP · Ministry of Defence Lieutenant General Christopher Tickell CBE · Ministry of Defence Mr Chris Bushell · Ministry of Defence
6 Oct 2020
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Carew Wilks · General Dynamics Land Systems-UK Francis Tusa · Defence Analysis Lee Fellows · Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill Nicholas Drummond · Aura Consulting Ltd. Peter Hardisty · Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth report: Obsolescent and outgunned: the British Army’s armo… HC 659 14 Mar 2021 30 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
13 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth report: Obsolescent and outg…
We note that difficulties with the Ajax programme have again arisen in part as a...
We note that difficulties with the Ajax programme have again arisen in part as a consequence of the Army’s desire to develop a bespoke vehicle capability (albeit one based on an existing but modified ASCOD 2 hull), with a plethora … Read more
Government Response
The government states that Ajax issues are being addressed and learning is informing improved approaches. However, it explicitly states there are no current plans for an Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant of AJAX and does not explain how the IFV role would be fulfilled if the Warrior programme does not proceed.
Ministry of Defence
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17 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth report: Obsolescent and outg…
We are alarmed by the revelation to this inquiry that a core aspect of the...
We are alarmed by the revelation to this inquiry that a core aspect of the plans set out in the 2015 SDSR will not be met. In its response to this Report the Ministry of Defence should provide a detailed … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the 2015 SDSR ambitions faced challenges due to pressure on the modernisation program. It claims to have learned from this, fully resourcing the recent Integrated Review with £24 billion in additional funding, but does not provide the detailed explanation of specific shortfalls, their identification, or rectification timelines as requested.
Ministry of Defence
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 20 classified
Accepted 22
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 2
Total 20 recs + 10 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
21 May 2021 Letter dated 21 May 2021 from the Chair to the Minister for Defence Procurement regarding the Government response to the Committee's report on procurement of Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Parliament page