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  annual report and accounts 2002-03

Annex E: Defence Equipment Programme and Collaborative Procurement

1. The following tables show the numbers of deliveries accepted in 2002/03 and/or planned for 2002/03, on 31 March 2003, for major equipment programmes. This includes all current projects on which, at 31 March 2003, development expenditure of over £50M or production expenditure of over £100M had been approved, or for which an Invitation to Tender had been issued where procurement costs are expected to exceed £100M. The precise definition of in-service date varies with different equipment although, in general terms, it can be taken to refer to the date on which the equipment is expected to be available and supportable in service in sufficient quantity to provide a usable operational capability. The dates quoted for ships and submarines are based on the acceptance date from the contractor of the First of Class, not the date by which the equipment (or specified number of pieces of equipment) will contribute to the operational capability of the Royal Navy.

Manoeuvre

2. The Manoeuvre area incorporates capabilities designed to provide direct and indirect battlefield engagement, tactical mobility, nuclear, biological and chemical defence, battlefield engineering, special projects and combat service support. While most of the equipment will be utilised by the Army, it also covers other Services and joint organisations, for example assets that will belong to the Joint Helicopter Command.

Table 29: Capability Manager Manoeuvre Equipment Programme
Equipment Number Ordered Before 1 April 2002 Number Ordered During 2002/03 Number Delivered Before 1 April 2002 Number Delivered During 2002/03 Deliveries Planned During 2003/04    Balance Outstanding In-Service Date (Year Only)
Armour/Anti-Armour
BRV Hippo1 4 0 0 1 3 0 2003
Attack Helicopter 67 0 17 26 23 1 2001
Brimstone anti-armour weapon 2 2 2 2 4% 96% 20043
Multi-Role ArmouredVehicle (MRAV) 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
Indirect Fire
COBRA (Counter Battery Radar) 7 0 0 0 2 5 2004
Extended Range Ordnance/ ERO: 202 0 0 0 0 ERO: 202  20073
Modular Charge System (ERO/MCS) for AS90 Self-Propelled Howitzer MCS: 650,345         MCS: 650,345  
Tactical Mobility
Merlin HC Mk 3 (Utility EH101) 22 0 17 5 0 0 2000
Chinook MSH HC3 8 0 8 0 0 0 20075
Mobility/Counter Mobility
Trojan & Titan 666 0 0 0 0 66 2006
BR 90 Bridge Systems7 Long Span/Two span 9 0 9 0 0 0 2000
Vehicles 139 0 139 0 0 0 1996
Bridges 184 0 184 0 0 0 7
Trestles 14 0 14 0 0 0 2002
Shielder8 30 0 30 0 0 0 2001
Terrier9 0 65 0 0 0 65 2008
Combat Simulators
Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT) 2 0 0 2 0 0 2002
Notes:
  1. An armoured beach recovery vehicle.
     
  2. Weapon numbers are classified.
     
  3. The in-service date is currently under review.
     
  4. At the end of March 2003 the project was under review and in July 2003 the MOD decided to withdraw from the programme.
     
  5. The in-service date of Chinook Mk3 is currently under review.
     
  6. 33 of each vehicle.
     
  7. BR 90 consists of a number of elements. The two main ones, Combat Support Bridging and General Support Bridging, entered service in December 1996 and March 1997 respectively. There are also a number of associated items of equipment including the Long Span and Two Span (LS/TS) Equipment which entered service in 2000 and the Trestle Equipment which entered service in 2002.
     
  8. A vehicle launched scatterable anti-vehicle mine system.
     
  9. The replacement for the Combat Engineer Tractor.

Strategic Deployment

3. The Strategic Deployment area covers the above-water and under-water battlespaces, and deployment, sustainability and recovery. It therefore contains programmes ranging from strategic airlift to the nuclear submarines to amphibious landing craft. Although most programmes will subsequently be delivered to the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, it also includes substantial Royal Air Force equipment. The table below does not reflect several major equipment programmes where orders have not yet been placed – for example, the future aircraft carriers, additional Astute Class Submarines, and Future Surface Combatants.

Table 30: Capability Manager Strategic Deployment Equipment Programme
Equipment Number Ordered Before 1 April 2002 Number Ordered During 2002/03 Number Delivered Before 1 April 2002 Number Delivered During 2002/03 Deliveries Planned During 2003/04 Balance Outstanding In-Service Date (Year Only)
Above-Water Battlespace
Single-Role Minehunter 12 0 12 0 0 0 1989
Sonar 2087 0 6 0 0 0  61 2006
Type 45 Destroyer 6 0 0 0 0 6 2007
Seawolf Block 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2005
Seawolf Mid-Life Update 44 0 0 0 0 44  20073
Under-Water Battlespace
Astute Class Submarine 3 0 0 0 0 3 20094
Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Update 4 0 0 1 1 2 2004
Nimrod MRA4 Aircraft5 18 0 0 0 0 18 2009
Merlin ASW Helicopter 44 0 39 5 0 0 1999
Stingray Torpedo Mod 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 2006
Spearfish Torpedo 2 2 2 2 2 2 1994
Deploy/Sustain/Recover
A400M 0 0 0 0 0 6 2011
C-17 4 0 4 0 0 0 2001
Hercules C-130J 25 0 25 0 0 0 2000
Landing Platform Dock (Replacement) 2 0 0 0 1 1 2003
Auxiliary Oiler 2 0 0 1  17 0 2003
Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary)8 4 0 0 0 1 3 2004
Notes:
  1. Planned total of ship systems required was reduced from sixteen to twelve in the 2002 planning round and a contract has been placed for six sets with an option for a further six. Two part sets, the industrial reference set and the integration testing set, have been ordered; a decision on further part sets for training purposes has yet to be made.
     
  2. In-service date slipped from 2006 due to inclusion of a Baseline Re-alignment Programme.
     
  3. In-service date slipped from 2006 due to inclusion of a Baseline Re-alignment Programme.
     
  4. In-service date for Astute is the subject of official negotiations.
     
  5. Aircraft numbers were reduced from 21 to 18 in early 2002. Following MOD/BAE SYSTEMS Agreement in February 2003, the programme was restructured, slipping the in-service date by four years.
     
  6. The UK requirement for 25 aircraft was confirmed in May 2003.
     
  7. Delivered April 2003.
     
  8. Alternative Landing Ships Logistic (ALSL) had its name changed to Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) during 2002/03.

Strike

4. The Strike area covers theatre airspace and deep strike – the ability to control the airspace in the battlezone, to deny the enemy that airspace, and to strike at targets from distance. It predominantly relates to Royal Air Force projects but includes Joint Force Harrier equipment and Tomahawk missiles.

Table 31: Capability Manager Strike Equipment Programme
Equipment Number Ordered Before Number Ordered During 2002/03 Number Delivered Before 1 April 2002 Number Delivered During 2002/03 Deliveries Planned During 2003/04 Balance Outstanding In-Service Date (Year Only)
Aircraft
Typhoon (Eurofighter) 55 0 0 0  101 45  20032
Typhoon ASTA (Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids) 1 0 0 0 0 13  20044
Tornado GR Mid-Life Update 142 0 113 24 5 0 1998
Tornado F3 - Weapon System Upgrade 100 0 92 8 0 0 1998
Weapons
PGB (Precision Guided Bomb) 0 0 0 0 0 5 2007
Conventionally Armed Stand Off Missile (Storm Shadow) 6 6 6 6 6 6 7
ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) 6 6 6 6 6 6 2002
BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile) 0 6 0 0 0 6 2012
Tomahawk Missiles 107 0 85 0 22 0 1998

Notes:

  1. Includes instrumented production aircraft and fatigue specimen, which will not be delivered to the RAF.
     
  2. Date of delivery of first aircraft to the Royal Air Force.
     
  3. Relates to the first of three envisaged tranches.
     
  4. Date of provision of initial training capability at RAF Coningsby for Cockpit Trainer.
     
  5. Contract expected to be placed in late 2003. Numbers are classified
     
  6. Weapon numbers are classified.
     
  7. In-service date slipped from 2002 due to technical problems.New in-service date yet to be decided.

Information Superiority

5. This capability area covers intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, and command, control and information infrastructure. Most projects are inherently tri-service in nature.

Table 32: Capability Manager Information Superiority Equipment Programme
Equipment Number Ordered Before 1 April 2002 Number Ordered During 2002/03 Number Delivered Before 1 April 2002 Number Delivered During 2002/03 Deliveries Planned During 2003/04 Balance Outstanding In-Service Date (Year Only)
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance
ASTOR (Airborne Stand-off Radar)1 Aircraft 5 0 0 0 0 5 2005
Ground 8 0 0 0 0 8
Communications
Skynet 4 Stage 2 3 0 3 0 0 0 1998
Skynet 5             2
Bowman (Combat Radio System)3 1 0 0 0 1 0 2004
CIP4 0 1 0 0 1 0 2004
Royal Navy Joint Tactical Information Distribution System and Satellite Tactical Data Links                
Increment 1 2 5 2 4 1 0 2003
Increment 2 11 0 0 0 0 11 2004
Increment 3 16 0 0 0 0 16 2005
Increment 4 11 0 0 0 0 11 2006
Increment 5 11 0 0 0 0 11 2008

Notes:

  1. ASTOR comprises five Sentinel R Mk 1 aircraft and eight ground exploitation facilities. The ASTOR in-service date is defined as the operational availability of two air platforms, two ground stations, a corresponding support capability and the availability of sufficient trained manpower. This would enable a basic operational capability for a brigade-level deployment.
     
  2. Skynet 5 satellites will begin to replace Skynet 4 Stage 2 constellation towards the end of the decade (based on the current estimates for the Out of Service date of Skynet 4). This is a PFI Project.
     
  3. Delivery of a tactical data and voice communications system from 2004-2007, with potential scope for 48,000 radios (not including 45,000 Personal Role Radios).
     
  4. A Common Battlefield Application Toolset (ComBAT), Infrastructure (I) and armoured Platform Battlefield Information System Application (PBISA) to support Command and Battlespace Management for the Land Component.

Collaborative Procurement

6. Collaboration continued to be an important means of meeting many of the Armed Forces' equipment needs. The Department continued to work closely with Germany, France and Italy to develop the necessary policies and procedures for OCCAR – the four-nation defence procurement organisation based in Bonn.

  • During June 2002, the OCCAR Board of Supervisors agreed that an independent review of the organisation should be undertaken to ensure that its potential is maximised. Deloitte Consulting was selected through open competition to conduct the review and a contract was placed with them in February 2003. The study will look at five discrete but overlapping areas including structure and business processes.
     
  • The Meteor demonstration, manufacture and support contract was signed by the DPA (on behalf of all six Partner Nations) and MBDA on 23 December 2002. This is a collaborative programme with five other nations: Germany, Spain and Italy (for Typhoon), Sweden (for JAS 39 Gripen) and France (for Rafale).
     
  • The implementation phase of the Letter of Intent Framework Agreement involving UK, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden progressed satisfactorily.
     
  • Negotiations on security of supply arrangements under the UK/US Declaration of Principles led to the signature of an Annex to the UK/US Defence Equipment Co-operation Memorandum in April 2002 and a Code of Conduct between the Department and UK Industry on 4 July 2002.
     
  • In conjunction with our European Union (EU) partners we successfully negotiated a European Council Regulation allowing duty relief on the importation of military goods from outside the EU.
     
  • In early 2003 the EU Council adopted the conclusions of the Convention of Europe which among other things declared the creation of an Inter-Governmental European Capabilities Development Research Acquisition and Armaments Agency. The UK will continue to be involved in the development of the proposed Agency.

7. A list of collaborative equipment projects involving the UK, as at 31 March 2003, is available on the MOD website at http://www.mod.uk.

 

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Last Updated: 3 Dec 03