UK rules out US-style procurement scheme for defence

The Ministry of Defence has said it has no plans to recruit a dedicated cadre of former defence industry executives, while also talking of the potential value of private sector experience in improving defence procurement.

In a written parliamentary answer published on 5 February, Defence Minister Luke Pollard responded to Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who asked what assessment had been made of adopting the U.S. military’s “business operators for national defence” scheme.

Pollard stated: “The Ministry of Defence has no plans to recruit a dedicated cadre of former defence industry executives.” However, he added that the department remains conscious of the benefits that private sector expertise can bring, pointing to the appointment of Rupert Pearce as the UK National Armaments Director in October.

Pollard said Pearce brings “over 40 years of experience across law, technology, telecommunications, energy, and venture capital,” adding that his background in managing large organisations and driving innovation made him well suited to lead efforts to improve how defence works with industry. Pollard also noted that the department is currently running a competition for a new Director General UK Defence Innovation role, with applications being accepted from both within and outside the Civil Service.

In a separate written answer issued the same day, Pollard responded to Reform UK MP Andrew Rosindell, who asked what steps had been taken to improve cost and time efficiency in armed forces procurement.

Pollard added that the Defence Industrial Strategy and Strategic Defence Review set out plans to overhaul procurement, including a “new segmented approach” supported by accelerated commercial pathways. He said the aim is to allow programmes to reach contract faster and improve cost efficiency, with the MoD working towards a target date of 1 April 2026 to establish the segmented approach.