UK defence shake-up

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“Defence industry faces shake-up
Defence Secretary John Reid
Mr Reid said change would not be ‘without pain’
The UK’s defence industry must be restructured to meet the long-term needs of the armed forces, Defence Secretary John Reid has said.

In future the government will expect manufacturers to focus on hi-tech weapons, but basic items such as ships’ hulls could be built abroad, he added.

The Ministry of Defence says some technology is so militarily sensitive it has to be made in the UK.

Mr Reid said investment in weapons would be cut by 40% over five years.

‘Cut overcapacity’

This might “require us to temper international competition in the short term”, he added.

Dr Reid told MPs that “overcapacity in production” had to be reduced, adding that aircraft and warships currently being developed would have “very long service lives”.

Dr Reid said future business for the industry would be in support and upgrade capacities, “not immediately moving to design and manufacture the next generation”.

Announcing the Defence Industrial Strategy, which follows a six-month MoD study, he said: “This is a challenging agenda requiring real change in the shape of the industrial base.

“This will not be without pain. But only if we collectively face up to the need for change will we succeed in being able to provide our servicemen and women with the equipment they deserve.”

The aerospace industry, for instance, is being told that in 25 years’ time the requirement will be for unmanned aircraft.

Dr Reid said the government’s aim was to make the defence industry leaner and more sustainable, and to avoid the past “boom and bust” cycle. “

So what do we think?

Personally, I just see it as another excuse to cut funding, which will cripple the UK defence industry. The politicians are quite happy to make these cuts, but won’t put back in the money they say they will.