Archive: Defence Procurement

UK 'faces international ridicule' over fighter jet U-turn

An F35-B aircraft lands on a US Navy vessel

The coalition has reversed its decision to switch the kind of fighter jet Britain's military will use on its aircraft carriers.

UK needs carrier strike capability, defence experts warn

MoD: Libya shows UK has the right strategy

MoD's 'blind faith' in aircraft carrier decision

Late supply deliveries 'letting down troops'

Afghanistan troops have faced supply delivery delays

Over 40% of deliveries to UK forces deployed overseas in the six months to November 2010 were over 30 days late, MPs have found.

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Exclusive: US cooperation may drive up Trident cost

Next-generation of nuclear submarines could push the boat out when it comes to budget overreach

The UK could be forced to build larger nuclear submarines than planned, pushing the Trident bill up further.

Carrier bill jumps upwards

Aircraft carriers will go ahead after all - but the bill is creeping up

Britain's two new aircraft carriers could cost up to £2 billion more than initially planned.

MPs lament 'astonishing' £36bn defence overspend

The process that went into procuring two new aircraft carriers at a cost of £5bn has been heavily criticised

Errors of financial management at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have survived the strategic defence and security review (SDSR), MPs have admitted.

Aircraft carriers 'will be spared' in defence review

The new aircraft carriers will reportedly be built, but at a cost to the rest of the defence budget

The decision has been finalised to save the building programme for two new aircraft carriers, according to a report.

Navy 'will get' new carriers

The proposed carriers will go ahead, but at a cost for the rest of the fleet

Programmes for the building of two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy have been preserved following a last-ditch meeting of the national security council (NSC), according to reports.

Govt 'wants to wreck UK defence industry'

Defence cuts are likely to hit industries associated with the Royal Navy and RAF hardest

Government spending cuts in defence could "raze the UK defence industry to the ground", Unite has claimed.

MoD 'living beyond its means'

MoD warned over lack of spending discipline

The Ministry of Defence's (MoD) failure to manage its purse-strings is an ongoing problem, the public spending watchdog has warned.

'Obstructive' MoD angers MPs

The Commons' defence committee says the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) reluctance to discuss future spending is preventing it from scrutinising the department.

Defence's 'conspiracy of optimism' targeted

Defence establishment attacked for 'conspiracy of optimism'

Britain's defence establishment has been accused of a "conspiracy of optimism" to blame for the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) terrible procurement practices.

Sketch: Quentin Davies' blustering masterclass

Quentin Davies appeared before the Commons' defence committee

Defence minister Quentin Davies showed how nothing quite beats bluster as he bristled his way through an absurd Commons committee grilling.

Helicopter shortages reflect 'creaking' defence system

MoD says it will not compromise on quality

A lack of spare parts has contributed to the helicopter shortages suffered by Britain's armed forces, a committee of MPs has said.

Ainsworth called out on troop numbers

The defence secretary faced calls for more troops from military personnel on the frontline in Afghanistan yesterday.

Protests hit London as Libyan arms dealers arrive

The Defence Systems and Equipment Internation (DSEi) exhibition begins at the ExCel centre in the Docklands today.

Anti-war protests are taking place in London today as a controversial arms fair gets underway.

"Endemic" MoD failures putting soldiers at risk

206 UK troops have died in seven years of conflict in Afghanistan

British soldiers in Afghanistan lack essential equipment and resources thanks to Whitehall mismanagement, a leaked report so embarrassing ministers barred its publication has revealed.

A blind eye to Britain's arms exports

Insufficient attention to where British arms exports have ended up has been blamed by MPs for their use against civilians in conflict zones.

Pressure mounts against Trident on anniversary of Hiroshima

US government image of a nuclear explosion

Anti-nuclear activists are using the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima to pile pressure on the government over its plans to renew the Trident weapon system.

MoD accused of £2.5 billion 'waste' cover-up

Up to £2.5 billion of public money has been wasted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), according to reports.

Malloch Brown breaks ranks on helicopters - and then backs down

Helicopter numbers have become a big political issue

A senior minister has broken ranks with the government over the need for more helicopters in Afghanistan, but then promptly retracted the statement.

Govt sticks to guns on aircraft carriers

The government has given a mixed response to the IPPR commission on national security's final report, insisting that Britain's aircraft carriers are here to stay.

MoD procurement 'over-optimistic'

The Type 45 Destroyer is to form the backbone of the Royal Navy's air defence capability for the next 30 years.

The MoD's procurement of the Type 45 Destroyer was "over-optimistic", an influential committee of MPs has said.

The UK should end its involvement in the Airbus A400M military transport programme due to a budget shortfall and concerns over viability, a leading expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has warned.

Soldiers at risk due to inept procurement

Appalling: MoD ineptitude over Chinooks putting soldiers' lives at risk

"Appalling" decision-making and a "catalogue of errors" are the reasons eight helicopters bought by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2001 are still not airworthy, according to a parliamentary committee.