The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is undertaking major reforms to its acquisition system, aiming to move away from “over-exquisite design” in military procurement and increase efficiency, affordability, and speed of delivery for the Armed Forces.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Ben Obese-Jecty, MP for Huntingdon, Minister of State for Defence Maria Eagle outlined the government’s efforts to modernise and optimise defence procurement.
“The Ministry of Defence is reforming its acquisition system to deliver defence capabilities at greater pace and secure the best possible value for money,” Eagle stated.
One of the central measures in this reform is the appointment of a National Armaments Director, tasked with:
- Ensuring the Armed Forces are properly equipped for modern defence challenges.
- Strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base.
- Reducing procurement waste and inefficiencies.
- Harmonising procurement processes across government, industry, and international partners.
This new role will focus on collaborating with industry and academia while integrating lessons from international procurement best practices.
Engaging Industry Earlier & Spiral Acquisition
To better align defence procurement with real-world market capabilities, the MOD is now:
- Engaging industry earlier in the procurement process to ensure new capabilities match available technologies and have export potential.
- Implementing Spiral Acquisition, which involves:
- Delivering minimum viable capability to the frontline as quickly as possible.
- Using off-the-shelf or quickly adaptable solutions from existing supply chains.
- Iterating new capabilities in phases to adapt to evolving threats.
This approach aims to accelerate deployment, reduce cost overruns, and ensure British forces remain agile and well-equipped in an ever-changing security landscape.
The move signals a cultural shift within UK defence procurement, aiming to prioritise practicality over excessive customisation, which has historically caused delays and increased costs. The reforms are expected to enhance operational readiness, strengthen domestic industry, and improve collaboration with allies.
And will HMT continue to drip feed programs?
And will the mop brass, politicians continue to dither, delay, procrastinate, or heaven forbid, make a decision and stick to it?
And will we start buying all manner of Drones and UAV, rather than informing decisions, and moving on to the next without ever operating the asset, in service?
And will the NAD do anything different to what already exists?
And considering the foot dragging of HMG and the Treasury in Increasing budgets substantially, which until Trump did the business they had no interest in doing, how will this word salad actually make any difference whatsoever from the countless “Reforms” that went before.
Talking of words, Puma was replaced by Chinook in Cyprus, as HMG “retires older military equipment.”
That used to be known as cuts.
Words.
And more words.
Can we put you in charge Daniele?
Absolutely spot on..
Earning over $15k monthly through a simple online job has been a game-changer for me. Last month alone, I earned $17,529 by dedicating just a few hours online. If you’re looking to increase your online income, you can start earning more cash by following the instructions provided here….
Open This——➤ 𝐖𝐰𝐰.𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭𝟏.𝐂𝐨𝐦
“ And will we start buying all manner of Drones and UAV, rather than informing decisions, and moving on to the next without ever operating the asset, in service?”
There is a sort of point as having the drone tech and manufacturing is very important – less so a large warehouse full of the drones of yesteryear?
Drones have been developing so, so fast.
Watch Keeper is a prime example of this. Investing in a platform that was obsolete pre IOC.
The reality is that drones are useful in UKR where nobody controls the air battle space but in an ENATO arena they wouldn’t be be quite as critical.
As others have said unmanned doesn’t mean less net manpower.
So while I’m all for drones for limited purposes I don’t see them, yet, as a panacea.
Neither do I SB.
As always, a balance in all things is best.
I wonder what the running costs of Chinook vs Puma amount to?! Just like phasing out the smaller C-130 and getting the larger Atlas to cover its remit.
Oh same old stuff again, lots of warm words but bugger all gets better. Still years behind with any thing and never enough kit or ammo to go around. Its ok though appoint some in to a high paid role to over see the changes that change not a lot.
MOD really can spin any old load of crap when really doing nothing else or fixing any thing.
Still going to take 10 years to build a frigate though.
A bit faster next time hopefully, due to both BAE and Babcock having new Frigate sheds available now
The slow processes are fitting out and sea trials, this is where improvements needs to be found.
Apo… its taking longer to upgrade a tank!
If words were bullets, we’d be invincible.
Get rid of about 60,000 mod staff follow Israeli example that would be a good starting point.