The Ministry of Defence has ruled out the transfer of surplus Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine, citing concerns about cost, suitability, and the burden on Ukraine’s logistics and training systems.
Responding to a written question from David Taylor MP (Labour – Hemel Hempstead), Defence Minister Luke Pollard said:
“Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) are key platforms for the British Army to meet Defence Commitments. Although small numbers are scheduled for disposal, these will have been selected in line with serviceability and suitability for role. As such, without substantial investment, they are not likely to offer significant capability to Ukraine and providing such small numbers would only increase the diversity of Ukraine’s armoured vehicle fleet – increasing their logistic and training burdens.”
The response comes as a public petition calling for the transfer of surplus Warrior vehicles to Ukraine has passed 14,000 signatures, prompting an official government response in the coming days.
The petition argues that Warrior IFVs—already due for disposal by 2030—“could be sent to bolster Ukraine’s defences without new cost to the taxpayer.” It also states: “We believe Infantry Fighting Vehicles have proved to be an extremely effective tool on the battlefields of Ukraine… this transfer may be beneficial as it comes with no new cost to the taxpayer.”
Warrior, introduced in the 1980s, is being phased out as part of the Army’s shift toward the Boxer mechanised platform. Defence Minister Maria Eagle previously confirmed in Parliament that 359 Warriors remain in service, with their out-of-service date set for 2027.
“As the Out of Service date for Warrior is 2027, with all vehicles withdrawn from service by the end of the decade, any that remain held by the Department beyond this will be classed as surplus to requirements,” said Eagle. “Plans for Warrior beyond its Out of Service Date are yet to be formally agreed.”
The petition will be considered for parliamentary debate if it reaches 100,000 signatures before its 4 October 2025 deadline. You can view or sign the petition here.
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In other words, we are hanging on to them until we figure out what we are doing.
Agreed, despite all the blurb, that was my take on it too.
Are we about to see WSP brought back from the dead???
Pollard is having a laugh. Warriors are not a key bit of kit. They are all parked up, no BA units. Foot dragging feet, confiscating, do nothing. What the current MoD do best. By the time the MoD makes a decision, Putin will have taken Sumy, Kharkov, pressuring the Baltics, and things falling apart with NATO.
The UKs 630 WARRIORS, 300 SCIMITARS need to get to Ukraine ASAP. Ukraine can sort out the RARDEN 30mm ammo line, KONTAK 5 EPA up-arming and engine /transition parts. Locally.
The UK don’t need them. No British Army unit man them. They are just parked up 3 miles from Tewksbury, doing noting.
Not so, Rob.
Warrior is still in use by several units.
All CVRT, including Scimitar, were withdrawn, so there might well be lots of those at the Ashchurch site you mention.
Hopefully a bit of sense is starting to filter in and they are thinking about extending the life of the warriors.. it’s the cheapest way to keep 350 tracked IFVs.
Either use them or donate
They are using them the army does not have IFVs just hanging around. Once these are gone they are gone and the army does not have 8-10 million o pop to replace them.. better to shove them in a garage and have time for the correct decision to be made ( refit and extent their lives) than give them away..
The number is actually 615. Clive Lewis. MP for Norwich and ex army, checked this with the MoD last year 2024. 13 were “economic write offs”, which means the fleet is still large.
If the MoD were going to keep them, and stick a GE Ajax type 40mm or CV 90 turret on them; its a time to make a decision. We are at WAR, MoD procurers need a fire under them.
Hi Rob the 615 was all variants.. remember the army only started with 489 IFV variants of warrior with a cannon…..
Bare in mind that with the delays to Ajax and the glacial pace of Boxer, these still equip the Armoured Infantry ( what little we have left – 4 Battalions, down from 9 in 2009 ) and also Squadrons of the RAC Armoured Cavalry Regiments.
As CVRT was, as usual, discarded before new equipment arrived.
What would the Armoured Cavalry do without Warrior?
Walk?
So this is welcome.
Probably revert back to the horse, Believe they still have a few in stock!
I guess they’re stealthyish, and cheap to run.
Long cabToyota Hilux with a .50 in the back mate….
Mate….it’s embarrassing! 😄 I know you jest, but this is the British Army, not some rag tag rabble in the desert!
We have to laugh, joking aside, I wonder if anyone else has pulled the dust sheet off the WSP prototype yet??
There’s absolutely no way the government can’t move defence spending to 3.5% GDP now, it’s just a question of when.
Wish we bought CV90s
Thank god for that.
The MOD can’t sit on the fence any longer.
Either LIFEX warrior with new turret CTA-40 armed and brimstone or purchase a new IFV.
Definitely don’t that the capacity to hand over our only IFV even if they are ancient.
In reality keeping the armoured infantry in warrior is one of the cheapest ways to support the lethality of the army.. and once the armoured cavalry are in Ajax get them to give their warriors back to the infantry and turn a couple of the mec infantry back into armoured infantry.
The heavy brigades really should have 6 armoured infantry battalions.
Exactly this. Which was the Army 2010 set up post 2010.