Aviation Procurement
Defence Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Committee has decided to inquire into aviation procurement across the Armed Forces and will undertake two distinct but connected inquiries. The first will focus on the strategic context, existing contracts and capabilities, and the impact of planned reductions to the fleet, and will consider in particular: Will the proposals …
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5
Recommendations
14
Conclusions
1
Report
4
Oral sessions
4
Events
Activity timeline 10 events
14 Nov
2023
2023
10 Sep
2023
2023
Report published
17 May
2023
2023
Oral evidence
17 May
2023
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
22 Mar
2023
2023
Oral evidence
22 Mar
2023
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
29 Nov
2022
2022
Oral evidence
29 Nov
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
28 Jun
2022
2022
Oral evidence
28 Jun
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
17 May 2023
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Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB · Ministry of Defence
James Cartlidge MP, Minister for Defence Procurement
Vice Admiral Rick Thompson · Ministry of Defence
22 Mar 2023
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Panel 2
Andy Netherwood - Squadron Leader (Rtd)
Captain Royal Navy (Rtd) Dan Stembridge · Royal Aeronautical Society
Lieutenant General USAF (Rtd) David Deptula · Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
29 Nov 2022
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Anna Keeling · Boeing Defence UK
Ian Muldowney · BAE Systems Air
Paul Livingston · Lockheed Martin
Sir Kevin Leeson · Airbus UK
28 Jun 2022
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Dr Sophy Antrobus · Kings College London
Justin Bronk · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Winging it? | HC 178 | 10 Sep 2023 | 19 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
2
Conclusion
Rejected
Tenth Report - Aviation Procuremen…
Increase combat air mass urgently to address the short-term capability gap
The RAF’s combat aircraft fleet now provides a boutique high capability: it lacks numerical depth and has an inadequate attrition reserve. Exquisite capability has its place, but in a peer-on-peer conflict such as a shooting war with Russia, every airframe …
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Government Response
The government rejects the need to increase combat air mass, arguing that effectiveness is not solely judged by numbers, and current investment in capabilities like Typhoon and F-35B, along with NATO contributions, provides sufficient deterrent capability.
Ministry of Defence
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5
Conclusion
Rejected
Tenth Report - Aviation Procuremen…
Deliver Typhoon fleet upgrades at pace and consider mothballing Tranche 1 aircraft
Planned sensor and weapons upgrades to the Typhoon fleet must be delivered at pace. In light of the RAF’s lack of any operational reserve, the MoD should seriously consider mothballing the Tranche 1 Typhoons which are due to be retired …
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Government Response
The government has rejected the recommendation to mothball Tranche 1 Typhoons, citing that regeneration would cost over £300 million due to capability, obsolescence, and regulatory needs. It also states retaining them would prevent harvesting components essential for sustaining Tranche 2 and 3 aircraft.
Ministry of Defence
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8
Recommendation
Rejected
Tenth Report - Aviation Procuremen…
Set out NATO discussions and revisit Wedgetail fleet reduction to five aircraft
Of all of the Defence Command Paper’s cuts, the decision to reduce the UK’s Wedgetail E-7 fleet from five to three aircraft stands out as the most perverse, with the fleet cut by 40% for an acquisition saving of just …
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Government Response
The government rejects revisiting the decision to reduce the Wedgetail fleet to three aircraft, stating the reduction saves £700 million and meets key requirements despite acknowledging increased risk. It confirms ongoing engagement with NATO via NAPMO to update them on the programme's developments.
Ministry of Defence
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18
Conclusion
Rejected
Tenth Report - Aviation Procuremen…
2021 Defence Command Paper cuts weakened UK air power, leaving the nation dangerously exposed.
The far-reaching cuts to aircraft numbers set out in the 2021 Defence Command Paper weakened the UK’s air power capability at a time when the armed forces were already over-stretched. The scale of this gamble became clear less than a …
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Government Response
The government rejected the committee's conclusion, asserting that increased defence spending and transformation programmes ensure the RAF continues to modernise and play a vital role in UK and allied security, rather than being diminished.
Ministry of Defence
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