The key takeaways here are the future of the UK's Aerospace industry and sovereignty. Alarm bells are already ringing at Warton re the longevity of the Typhoon. If GCAP doesn't deliver, then Typhoon is pretty much it.
Sovereignty for sales is also key. Typhoon has been hindered by Germany's stance on exports.
Two competing 6th Gen programmes on one continent should be manageable. I would love to be a fly on the wall listening to the DassaultAirbus discussions.
Japan is a key member of GCAP. It is investigating heavily in defence, especially high end capabilities.
I am no expert on defence, but I do know a little about British government projects and project spending. The money will be spent until it runs dry. The project will never be completed, the time schedule will be extended and extended, and will eventually be abandoned because the entire design will be so outdated and no longer fit for purpose. Along the way, a number of defence-related politicians and company directors will inexplicably find themselves substantially wealthier.
We do need to increase defence spending to at least 3% of GDP but it clear that even this level of spend will not enough to cover everything that is required to rebuild a sovereign and credible defence capability for the UK.
You could argue that in the new world it will need to cover a LOT more than we previously thought:
1. the existing pipeline of procurement (Type 26, Boxer, Ajax etc);
2. development of new technologies and capabilities (Aukus, FCAS/GCAP);
3. a catch-up from previous years of underspend (pay & conditions, retention, recruitment, training, munitions);
4. compensatory spend to replace US capabilities we will still need (C4ISR, airlift);
5. replacing US-sourced critical infrastructure and equipment with sovereign options (Trident, F35, GPS).
While we have allies with whom we can share the load of taking on Russia (and China and the USA), all of the items listed above will still cost us in the UK a lot of money and, on the current trajectory, will likely take an excruciating long time to effect.
I get that this Government wants to be re-elected and has competing priorities but their current approach comes across as inadequate and lack in urgency and ambition.
I accept that I may be being unfair and that we'll see more movement in the near future - I certainly hope so.
The key takeaways here are the future of the UK's Aerospace industry and sovereignty. Alarm bells are already ringing at Warton re the longevity of the Typhoon. If GCAP doesn't deliver, then Typhoon is pretty much it.
Sovereignty for sales is also key. Typhoon has been hindered by Germany's stance on exports.
Two competing 6th Gen programmes on one continent should be manageable. I would love to be a fly on the wall listening to the DassaultAirbus discussions.
Japan is a key member of GCAP. It is investigating heavily in defence, especially high end capabilities.
The authoritarian regimes today will not be a five-year problem. This will be a long war, whether hot or cold at various times. Develop capability.
I am no expert on defence, but I do know a little about British government projects and project spending. The money will be spent until it runs dry. The project will never be completed, the time schedule will be extended and extended, and will eventually be abandoned because the entire design will be so outdated and no longer fit for purpose. Along the way, a number of defence-related politicians and company directors will inexplicably find themselves substantially wealthier.
Or am I being cynical again?
Hi,
We do need to increase defence spending to at least 3% of GDP but it clear that even this level of spend will not enough to cover everything that is required to rebuild a sovereign and credible defence capability for the UK.
You could argue that in the new world it will need to cover a LOT more than we previously thought:
1. the existing pipeline of procurement (Type 26, Boxer, Ajax etc);
2. development of new technologies and capabilities (Aukus, FCAS/GCAP);
3. a catch-up from previous years of underspend (pay & conditions, retention, recruitment, training, munitions);
4. compensatory spend to replace US capabilities we will still need (C4ISR, airlift);
5. replacing US-sourced critical infrastructure and equipment with sovereign options (Trident, F35, GPS).
While we have allies with whom we can share the load of taking on Russia (and China and the USA), all of the items listed above will still cost us in the UK a lot of money and, on the current trajectory, will likely take an excruciating long time to effect.
I get that this Government wants to be re-elected and has competing priorities but their current approach comes across as inadequate and lack in urgency and ambition.
I accept that I may be being unfair and that we'll see more movement in the near future - I certainly hope so.