12 Dec 18. Defence Committee Report. Anglo-French Joint Inquiry Reports On Future Anti-Ship Missile Systems. The UK and French Governments have every interest in successfully completing the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon programme say the House of Commons Defence Committee and the Assemblée nationale’s Standing Committee on National Defence and the Armed Forces, in a joint report published today.
The report, drafted and agreed by both Committees, marks the culmination of the first joint Inquiry between a House of Commons Committee and a Committee of a non-UK legislature. The Inquiry, which is a new step in UK-French inter-parliamentary cooperation on defence and national security matters, has focused on one of the most ambitious products of the Lancaster House Agreement signed between the UK and French Governments in 2010 – the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme.
The FC/ASW seeks to develop a new generation of deep strike and anti-ship missiles by 2030, replacing the capabilities hitherto provided by Harpoon and Exocet (anti-ship missiles) and SCALP/Storm Shadow (deep strike missiles). In 2017, both Governments agreed to conduct a ‘concept phase’, led by MBDA. This phase is due to conclude in 2020 after which Ministers will need to decide whether to proceed to a ‘design, development and production phase’ for the FC/ASW to come into service in 2030.
The joint Inquiry, which included joint evidence sessions in London and Paris, found that – while good progress had been made in the ‘concept phase’ to date – several key issues need to be resolved in order for the FC/ASW programme to continue after 2020. These issues include:
- The approach the MoD chooses to take in filling the ‘capability gap’ that will emerge when Harpoon retires from service in 2023. The MoD will need to decide whether to opt for a short-term ‘bridging capability’ to see the UK through to the coming into service of the FC/ASW, or a longer-term replacement capability that could call the FC/ASW into question. The joint report urges the MoD to balance carefully the savings that could be made from a longer-term off-the-shelf replacement for Harpoon against the potential costs to the UK’s industrial base as well as to its defence relationship with France if FC/ASW were not to proceed;
- The necessity of achieving convergence on key operational requirements – especially on whether the FC/ASW programme should give precedence to supersonic or stealth missile technology;
- The procurement process for the FC/ASW programme post-2020, including safeguards to ensure value for money if MBDA is awarded the main contract without competition; and
- Interoperability of the FC/ASW with platforms deployed by the UK’s and France’s allies in NATO.
While the joint report notes that there is a risk of FC/ASW not proceeding after 2020, it emphasizes that there is still ample time for differences to be ironed out. The two Committees express confidence that these issues “can be resolved amicably and successfully”.
Commenting on the report, the Chairman of the Defence Committee, the Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis MP said:
“The FC/ASW programme is an exciting opportunity to deepen the UK’s and France’s defence partnership and the ‘One Complex Weapons Initiative’, involving MBDA, that has helped to sustain key skills in both countries’ defence industrial bases. However, for the programme to succeed, it is clear that some significant issues need to be resolved before the ‘concept phase’ concludes in 2010 and both Governments must approach these issues in a spirit of pragmatism and compromise. If these issues can be resolved – and we are confident that they can – then this programme has the potential to strengthen considerably the cooperation between our two countries, including our role in the collective defence of Europe within NATO. Today’s report is a testament to the strength of the UK’s defence partnership with France, irrespective of our forthcoming departure from the European Union.”
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Lord Berkeley
Asked on: 28 November 2018
Ministry of Defence
Appledore Shipyard
HL11882
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to find (1) a new operator for the Appledore Shipyard, and (2) new orders from the defence and commercial sectors to maintain shipbuilding in that shipyard.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 11 December 2018
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) remain closely engaged with Babcock and relevant stakeholders regarding the closure of Appledore shipyard. While the future of the shipyard will be a matter for the site owner, BEIS is working with the local council, which is considering options for the future of the yard.
The MOD explored a range of options with Babcock to protect Appledore, including potentially bringing forward a £60 m package of work at Devonport to provide further employment for Appledore workers. This was not, however, enough to secure the long-term future of the yard.
Q
Asked by Dr Julian Lewis
(New Forest East)
[N]
Asked on: 29 November 2018
Ministry of Defence
NATO
197309
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contribution the Government is (a) making and (b) has plans to make to NATO’s (i) new Command in Norfolk, (ii) new Command in Ulm, (iii) Counter Hybrid Support Teams, (iv) Cyber Operations Centre, (v) Hub for the South in Naples and (vi) capacity building programmes in (A) Iraq, (B) Jordan and (C) Tunisia.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 11 December 2018
The UK remains committed to NATO and to Euro-Atlantic security. We were a leading proponent of the decision made at the Warsaw Summit in 2016 to recognise cyberspace as a domain of operations and will continue to support its full implementation, and play an active role in supporting the development of NATO’s Cyber Operations centre. The UK is also engaged with NATO’s efforts to project stability across the Middle East and North Africa region through our southern partnerships and the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building initiative. Discussions within NATO regarding the exact nature of individual Allies’ contributions to its new Commands in Norfolk and Ulm, and to the Counter Hybrid Support Teams, are still ongoing. Once this information becomes available, I will write to my right hon. Friend with further detail.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
Asked on: 04 December 2018
Ministry of Defence
Defence Equipment: Cost Effectiveness
198773
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department’s Financial Summary of the Defence Equipment Plan 2018, which capabilities that are uneconomic to maintain is his Department considering to remove from service earlier than planned.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 11 December 2018
We always keep our military capabilities under constant review to ensure they continue to deliver the required military effect and value for money. Since the financial summary of the Equipment Plan was published, the Chancellor has pledged an extra £1 bn to the Ministry of Defence over the next two years which, on top of the £800 m increase this spring, represents a substantial financial boost and reaffirms our commitment to protecting national security.
Q
Asked by Jim Shannon
(Strangford)
Asked on: 05 December 2018
Ministry of Defence
Army: Suicide
199402
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to tackle the matter of soldiers taking their own life (a) during and (b) after active service.
A
Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood
Answered on: 11 December 2018
Every study conducted by the Ministry of Defence has found that the risk of suicide amongst the Armed Forces community, including veterans of the 1982 Falkland and 1990-91 Gulf conflicts, is lower than amongst the general population.
A considerable amount of work has already been undertaken to improve the mental health of Service personnel and to prevent suicide and suicide risk. This includes tackling stigma through education and providing easily accessible, rapid and flexible access to mental health support and healthcare services. Armed Forces personnel undergo “through life” psychological resilience training which enables them to recognise and manage stress in themselves and in their colleagues and actively encourages them to seek help at an early stage.
However, we continue to look at what more can done. This includes a focused review by the Defence Safety Authority of suicide in Service personnel to identify additional measures for preventing suicide. The review was published on 9 November 2018 by the Defence Safety Authority and work to take forward the recommendations has commenced.
We have less influence on individuals’ behaviour once they are discharged from the Armed Forces, as their mental healthcare becomes the responsibility of the National Health Service in the UK. There are many factors that can result in suicide such as relationship breakdown, debt and employment concerns, not only service in the Armed Forces.
However, we are not complacent. Any suicide is one too many and a tragedy for the individual, their family, friends and colleagues.
Q
Asked by Mr Gregory Campbell
(East Londonderry)
[N]
Asked on: 06 December 2018
Ministry of Defence
EU Defence Policy
199792
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK will continue to participate in the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence after the UK leaves the EU.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 11 December 2018
The UK supports the EU’s Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and has participated in the pilot stage. The CARD currently does not directly provide for Third Country involvement. However, the recent Political Declaration on the Future Relationship between the UK and the EU sets out our shared vision of close and lasting cooperation on external action, including cooperation on defence capabilities development.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
[N]
Asked on: 06 December 2018
Ministry of Defence
AWE
199830
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to restart Project Pegasus.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 11 December 2018
No decision has been made on the restart of Project Pegasus, which remains under review.