The Army has assessed that the availability of spares for the L118 Light Gun has been challenged by a combination of obsolescence and supply chain constraints, according to an answer given in Parliament.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative member for Huntingdon, asked what assessment had been made of the availability of spares for the 105mm gun.
Luke Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: “The Army has assessed that the availability of spares for the L118 Light Gun has been challenged by a combination of obsolescence issues and supply chain constraints.
“Work is underway with industry partners to improve support arrangements, address obsolescence, enhance the efficiency of spares procurement and strengthen long-term supply resilience. These measures are intended to improve the availability of spares and support the continued sustainment of the Light Gun fleet.”
The answer puts no figure on how many guns are affected, gives no measure of current availability and names no industry partner, and it sets no date by which the position is expected to improve.
Obsolescence is the predictable condition of a weapon that entered service in the 1970s. The Light Gun remains the towed artillery piece of the airborne and commando forces, and Britain has also supplied numbers of them to Ukraine, which puts further demand on a spares pipeline the department now describes as constrained.
Catapults/ Slingshots? I know…. bows and arrows.
There’s still quite a lot in store! This gun is plodding along, like the C130 was, good for a niche organisation and taskings, but as an general platform for the RA, way past its sell by date in terms of range, calibre and ability to move.
Are there plans to replace soon?