The MoD's response, published yesterday, provides detailed answers to each of the conclusions and recommendations in the report, which add additional details about the Government's modernisation plans. The House of Commons Defence Committee published its report on the proposals set out in the MoD's 'Future Capabilities' Command Paper, on 17 March 2005. Radical modernisation plans for the UK's Armed Forces were published in the Defence Command Paper "Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities" on 21 July 2004.
The MOD is concentrating on improving the effect our systems and forces have, rather than the number of systems involved. Tens of billions of pounds of new equipment will be procured to help the military to continue to perform so outstandingly. Major procurements include: Skynet 5, Cormorant and Falcon communications systems, the Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft, the Astute class submarine, the Type 45 Destroyer, the FRES family of armoured vehicles, and the large CVF aircraft carriers.
Particularly important to achieving the effects required will be the concept of Network Enabled Capability, which involves linking all elements of our forces together in real time; from aircraft carriers, to aircraft, to individual soldiers on the ground, enabling all Services to operate together and with our allies to deliver increasingly agile and precise military capability.
The MoD is currently implementing the Future Capabilities programme that will enhance the flexibility, resilience and capabilities of the Armed Forces, so they continue to be well prepared for the most likely operational demands of the future.
Defence Secretary John Reid said, "I welcome the Defence Committee's positive report and its endorsement of our proposals for modernising the Armed Forces.
"Our Armed Forces are extremely effective in carrying out the operations they are asked to undertake - from Iraq to Afghanistan to the Balkans. To remain world class, they must continue to adapt to meet the security challenges of both today and the future.
"This is what the programme of change and modernisation set out in the 'Future Capabilities' paper is all about. The end result will be even more deployable, capable and flexible Armed Forces than we have today, prepared to carry out the most likely expeditionary operations.
"This is a challenging agenda - but vital that we deliver it, and the record of success in Defence gives me confidence that we will."
In addition to the extra £3.7 billion a year by 2007/8 provided to Defence in the 2004 Spending Review settlement, the MoD is generating resources to strengthen the front line through its comprehensive efficiency and rationalisation plans.
Adjustments to three of the six Royal Navy 'Standing Tasks', to ensure the Navy can continue to meet its commitments in the north Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf with fewer vessels, were also announced today in the MOD's response.
Mr Reid said, "As well as benefiting from the longest period of sustained real growth in Defence spending for over 20 years, the Ministry of Defence is committed to making 2.5 per cent efficiency gains in each of the next three years. Our annual £6 billion procurement programme is fully funded for the next decade.
"We will use these resources to deliver new capabilities, including high priority equipment projects such as two new state-of-the-art aircraft carriers and other ships, multi-role Typhoon aircraft and a new generation of land vehicles. These projects will give Britain the capabilities it needs to meet the threats of the 21st Century.
"The changes we have announced to how we will meet the Navy's overseas tasks in the future, will ensure we continue to meet our priority commitments with fewer vessels.
"We are successfully fulfilling our high priority operational commitments - in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan. But we will also continue to carry out important standing deployments to other priority areas such as the Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and the North and South Atlantic."
Quelle: Publictechnology, 07.07.2005
