21 May 21. Defence Committee Evidence Session. Defence holds session on French-UK naval co-operation and UK global ambitions.
On Tuesday 25 May, at 09.30, the Defence Committee will hold a two-part evidence session.
For the first half of the session, the Committee will hear from Rear Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Head of French Navy foreign relations (ALRI) to discuss French-UK naval co-operation and the potential for joint operations. For the second part, the Committee will focus on the UK’s global ambitions, risks and threats, and will explore whether the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper delivers the strategic direction and the capabilities required to achieve those ambitions. Witnesses for the second part of the session are Professor Patrick Porter and Dr David Blagden.
Rear Admiral Nicolas Vaujour graduated from the French Naval Academy in 1989. In 1998, he joined the air defence destroyer Jean Bart as the head of warfare officers. He was appointed in 2002 as the head of the anti-surface warfare training department at ALFAN (Naval Action Force) headquarters. After graduating from the Joint War College he joined the French Joint Staff as military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Georgelin. He was promoted to Captain on 1 December 2009. In July 2015, he was appointed as Head of Capability Development for naval warfare at the French Joint Staff. Promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on 1 May 2018, he was appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff Naval Operations from May 2018 to August 2020. A recipient of the Cross for Military Valour, Rear Admiral Nicolas Vaujour has been awarded the French Legion of Honour and the French Order of Merit.
Professor Patrick Porter is Professor of International Security and Strategy at the University of Birmingham and a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, London. Professor Porter has written four books, including Blunder: Britain’s War in Iraq, and, most recently, The False Promise of Liberal Order: Nostalgia, Delusion and the Rise of Trump. Professor Porter has published lead articles in academic journals and opinion pieces in papers such as the New Statesman. Dr David Blagden is a Senior Lecturer in International Security at the Strategy and Security Institute within the Department of Politics, having joined the University of Exeter in 2015. He was previously the Adrian Research Fellow in International Politics at Darwin College, University of Cambridge. Dr Blagden has worked in – and subsequently consulted for – the UK Cabinet Office. In terms of popular media contributions, he has provided commentary for the BBC and has been quoted in, and written for, the UK and US national press. He is also a warfare officer in the Royal Naval Reserve, and has served at sea and ashore with a number of UK and NATO warships and headquarters.
Tuesday 25 May, 09.30:
09.30, Panel 1:
- Rear Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Head of French Navy foreign relations (ALRI)
10.30, Panel 2:
- Professor Patrick Porter, Professor of International Security and Strategy, University of Birmingham
- Dr David Blagden, Senior Lecturer in International Security, University of Exeter
21 May 21. Defence Committee – Special Report and Chair Correspondence.
Tobias Ellwood writes to MoD following publication of AFV Government response. Today, the Defence Committee publishes the Government response to the Committee’s report “Obsolescent and outgunned: the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability” and writes to Jeremy Quin, Minister for Defence Procurement, raising concerns. The letter (attached) states that the Committee is ‘not entirely reassured by the response’ and the Committee is requesting further information and updates on various programmes:
The Committee asks:
1) How will you address the gap in Air Defence and Tube Artillery capability pending the successful execution of the programmes mentioned in your response?
2) What are the key risks in the MIV, Challenger 3 and LETacCIS programmes and how are they being addressed with the relevant contractors?
3) Will the WCSP/IFV capability be fulfilled by an alternative? If so, when will that alternative be defined?
The Committee requests briefing notes and six-monthly updates on:
- Challenger 3
- LETacCIS
- Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)
- The Close Support Fires Programme, and the Land Deep Fires Programme (LDFP)
- Land Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD)
- Implementation of the Land Industrial Strategy
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, said, “Unfortunately, the Ministry of Defence’s response and poor track record has done little to reassure us. There is significant work ahead for the Department in order to undo the damage of the last few decades. The Defence Committee will continue its scrutiny of this area and has asked for regular updates. If our Forces are to feel confident entering into conflict they must be provided with the most up-to-date equipment. Not to do so only puts lives at risk.”
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Electronic Warfare: Training
UIN 987, tabled on 13 May 2021
Question
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 41 of the Integrated Review 2021, what steps have been taken to invest in an integrated education and training system for the UK’s cyber ecosystem to maximise the UK’s cyber capabilities.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on
18 May 2021
As part of the Government’s commitment to strengthen the UK’s cyber ecosystem, Defence is investing heavily in training and educating our workforce, and making this activity available cross-government where applicable. This includes the development of a Defence Cyber Academy which will significantly increase our current teaching capacity, build stronger links with other bodies including the newly-established UK Cyber Security Council and embed common standards aligned with industry and academia. The development of our people of will be underpinned by the Defence Cyber Competency Framework and supported by a suite of Cyber Virtual Environments on which to train and exercise both internally and externally with our cross-government partners.
Answered by
Unmanned Air Vehicles: Procurement
UIN 630, tabled on 12 May 2021
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Conservative
Bournemouth East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to (a) test and (b) purchase unmanned aerial vehicles for use on aircraft carriers.
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
Autonomy and uncrewed systems are at the forefront of our developmental thinking, and of the Future Maritime Aviation Force. The intent is to expand experimentation of Uncrewed Air Systems with Royal Navy vessels, including the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, in the coming years.
Type 32 frigate
House of Commons written question 119.
UIN 119, tabled on 11 May 2021
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Conservative
Bournemouth East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to put the Type 32 frigate out for competition; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
In the Defence Strategies published earlier this year we outlined plans to procure up to five Type 32 frigates. Work is ongoing to develop the operational concept and the programme and procurement strategy for the Type 32 will be decided following the concept phase.
Type 26 frigate
House of Commons written question 123.
UIN 123, tabled on 11 May 2021
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Conservative
Bournemouth East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what air, land and sea attack missile capabilities will be included in the Type 26 frigate.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
The Type 26 frigate will be equipped with a Sea Ceptor anti-air missile defence system. Type 26 will also be capable of embarking a Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter or Wildcat maritime attack helicopter, which will be able to deploy the Sea Venom and Martlet variants of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon.
Answered by
Chinook Helicopters: Procurement
UIN 1011, tabled on 13 May 2021
Chinook helicopters
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where depth maintenance will be carried out for the UK’s 14 new extended-range Chinook helicopters.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
The Investment Appraisals Committee did not previously reject the Ministry of Defence’s proposals to purchase the 14 Chinook H-47 Extended-Range helicopters.
The maintenance philosophy for the new H-47(ER)s forms part of the programme delivery and is currently under review. A project is underway to determine the support solution and no decisions have yet been made.
Ajax vehicles
House of Commons written question 116.
UIN 116, tabled on 11 May 2021
Question
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Conservative
Bournemouth East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the delivery of all the Ajax vehicles ordered by his Department; and whether the first batch will be delivered on time.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
The AJAX delivery schedules are currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Defence and GDLSUK. 14 non-turreted AJAX vehicles at Capability Drop 1 have been delivered to date. A further 12 turreted AJAX vehicles are currently going through General Acceptance Testing.
Ajax vehicles
House of Commons written question 117.
UIN 117, tabled on 11 May 2021
Question
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Conservative
Bournemouth East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what equipment used on the Ajax vehicle is also operable on (a) Boxer, (b) Challenger and (c) Warrior vehicles.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
The Army seeks to exploit the benefits of the commonality and re-use of mission systems that can be integrated onto its vehicles. For example, Ajax, Boxer and Challenger are being configured with digital architectures that will enable greater mission system commonality in communications systems, electronic countermeasures and digital management systems. Specifically, Ajax and Boxer will use a Remote Weapon Station from a common family, and common shot detection systems; whilst Ajax and Challenger 3 share common sights and chain gun.
Although some of these common mission systems can also be fitted to Warrior, as part of the recent Integrated Review, the decision has been made not to take the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme forward.
Answered by
Type 45 destroyers
UIN 121, tabled on 11 May 2021
Question
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Conservative
Bournemouth East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 45 destroyers are undergoing refit.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
Two Type 45 Destroyers, HMS Daring and HMS Duncan, are currently undergoing planned deep maintenance. Work is also underway on HMS Dauntless, the first ship to enter the Type 45 Power Improvement Project.
It is planned that all six Type 45 ships will have received the Power Improvement Project upgrade by the mid-2020s. The programme is dependent on the availability of ships to undertake the upgrade, balanced against the Royal Navy’s standing and future operational commitments.
Type 31 frigates
House of Commons written question 118.
UIN 118, tabled on 11 May 2021
Question
Mr Tobias Ellwood
Conservative
Bournemouth East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 31 frigates will be built; and how many his Department has ordered.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
Five Type 31 frigates have been ordered to be built by Babcock at Rosyth.
Military Aircraft: Procurement
UIN 84, tabled on 11 May 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to begin the concept and development phase on Tempest; and if he will publish a timeframe for further progression of that aircraft.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
The Concept & Assessment phase is vital to the Future Combat Air System Programme, as we conduct the work needed to provide evidence for the evolution of the project. We are on track to launch the Concept and Assessment phase later this year and continue to target an Initial Operating Capability by the mid-2030s.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
UIN 80, tabled on 11 May 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many vehicles of the Ajax family have been accepted into service by the British Army.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
17 May 2021
A total of 14 non-turreted Capability Drop 1 AJAX vehicles have been delivered. 12 turreted AJAX vehicles are currently going through General Acceptance Testing.
Answered by
Chinook Helicopters: Procurement
UIN 1009, tabled on 13 May 2021
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the purchase of 14 extended-range Chinook helicopters.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
18 May 2021
The acquisition of 14 Chinook H-47 Extended-Range helicopters assures Chinook operations to at least 2050, securing UK jobs both during aircraft manufacture and for long-term support. The UK workshare for every Chinook manufactured is estimated between 3-6% of unit value. In addition to Boeing Defence UK, other UK located suppliers include BAE, Collins UK, L3 Harris and Fujitsu. The cost to the public purse for the purchase of the aircraft is £1,478.387 million.