FIXING THE BRITISH ARMY'S ARMOURED VEHICLE PROGRAMME (Thread)
According to the Government's own Major Project's Report for 2017-2018, the Army's Warrior IFV Capability Sustainment Programme is undeliverable. This upgrade has been needed for more than a decade. (1 of 10)
According to the Government's own Major Project's Report for 2017-2018, the Army's Warrior IFV Capability Sustainment Programme is undeliverable. This upgrade has been needed for more than a decade. (1 of 10)
The core issue with this and other Army vehicle programmes is the acquisition strategy has been driven by arbitrary budget setting, not a detailed appreciation of what capabilities were needed and how much they would cost to deliver. (2 of 10)
Okay. We are where we are. What do we do about it?
Let's start with what we want to achieve: Two Armoured Infantry Brigades plus Two Mechanised Infantry (Strike) Brigades.
Here is a proposed organisational structure for each brigade: (3 of 10)
Let's start with what we want to achieve: Two Armoured Infantry Brigades plus Two Mechanised Infantry (Strike) Brigades.
Here is a proposed organisational structure for each brigade: (3 of 10)
How to deliver this?
Job #1 - Continue with Challenger 2 LEP. Fit new turret with 120mm smoothbore. Ensure 200 are upgraded. Equip four Armoured Regiments with 44 tanks each. Rest held in reserve. Budget £4 million per tank = £800 million. Programme already budgeted. (4 of 8)
Job #1 - Continue with Challenger 2 LEP. Fit new turret with 120mm smoothbore. Ensure 200 are upgraded. Equip four Armoured Regiments with 44 tanks each. Rest held in reserve. Budget £4 million per tank = £800 million. Programme already budgeted. (4 of 8)
Job #2 - Cancel Warrior CSP = Saving of £1.4 billion.
Job #3 - Reconfigure Ajax purchase. Acquire 200 Reconnaissance variants to equip two Reconnaissance Regiments. Acquire 400 IFV variants to equip 4 x Infantry battalions = £4.3 billion = same quantity & budget. (5 of 10)
Job #3 - Reconfigure Ajax purchase. Acquire 200 Reconnaissance variants to equip two Reconnaissance Regiments. Acquire 400 IFV variants to equip 4 x Infantry battalions = £4.3 billion = same quantity & budget. (5 of 10)
Job #4 - Continue with Boxer MIV acquisition. Acquire 600 Boxer ICVs to equip 6 x Infantry Bns. Budget £6 million per vehicle. = £3.6 billion.
Job #5 - Acquire 128 Boxer RCH 155mm Howitzers. Budget £7 million per vehicle = £896 million.
Both already in Equipment Plan. (6 of 10)
Job #5 - Acquire 128 Boxer RCH 155mm Howitzers. Budget £7 million per vehicle = £896 million.
Both already in Equipment Plan. (6 of 10)
Job #6 - Acquire 200 Boxer CRV to equip 2 x Cavalry Regiments. Budget £7 million per vehicle. Use Ajax turret. =£1.4 billion = same as existing Warrior CSP budget. (7 of 10)
Job #8 - Continue with MRV-P Group 1 to acquire JLTV/ Foxhound for command & liaison role. Budget £750k per vehicle = £750 million.
Job #9 - Continue with MRV-P Group 2 to acquire 1,000 PMS for protected mobility role. Budget £1.5 million per vehicle = £1.5 billion. (8 of 10)
Job #9 - Continue with MRV-P Group 2 to acquire 1,000 PMS for protected mobility role. Budget £1.5 million per vehicle = £1.5 billion. (8 of 10)
The above structure would provide two credible, capable and focused Heavy and Medium weight formation types and all within the current budget. Of course it would be nice if we had three of each brigade type instead of just two. We'd then have two deployable divisions. (9 of 10)
