Tenth Report - Aviation Procurement: Winging it?
Select Committee
Defence Committee
HC 178
10 September 2023
Government response
Second Special Report - Aviation Procurement: Winging It?: Government Response to the Committee’s Tenth Report of Session 2022–2023 · published 14 Nov 2023
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
2
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 22
Increase combat air mass urgently to address the short-term capability gap
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Para 41
Deliver Typhoon fleet upgrades at pace and consider mothballing Tranche 1 aircraft
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Para 58
Set out NATO discussions and revisit Wedgetail fleet reduction to five aircraft
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 125
2021 Defence Command Paper cuts weakened UK air power, leaving the nation dangerously exposed.
Conclusion
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 Summary
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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