Government fighter decision ‘rushed and flawed’, MPs say

A highly critical report from the commons defence committee slams the “rushed and flawed” decision made by the government in 2010 to adopt the carrier variant of the US-built F35 Joint Strike Fighter, rather than the “jump jet” version chosen by the previous government.

Ministers had argued that the carrier variant would improve “interoperability” with other navies. However, last May, amid fears the costs of fitting necessary catapults and arrestor gear to the navy’s carrier were spiralling out of control, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond (pictured, below) announced the government would make a U-turn back to the “jump jet” fighter.

‘Rushed and flawed’

The committee report said the 2010 decision to go for the carrier variant was a mistake which led to increased costs and further delays to the carrier programme.

“It is clear that the decision was rushed and based upon incomplete and inaccurate policy development. It was taken without the MoD understanding how the change could be implemented,” the committee said.

“Perhaps the primary example of how little the MoD understood about this decision is the fact that it was supposed to improve interoperability. This turned out to be incorrect.

“We urge the MoD to learn the lessons of this closed, rushed and flawed decision of 2010.”

Clear grasp?

The committee also complained that the lack of a proper defence industrial strategy put the UK at a disadvantage compared with competitor countries.

“We do not understand how we can have confidence in a national security strategy which does not show a clear grasp of what is needed for the defence of the United Kingdom, and how this can be ensured,” the committee said.

“The overriding reason for the purchase of any item of defence equipment must be its quality and the requirements of the armed forces. We consider nonetheless that the government should take into account in buying equipment the enhanced opportunities for export of equipment in use by UK armed forces.”

‘In the best interest’

Defence equipment minister Philip Dunne said the MoD’s newly published 10-year equipment plan would ensure the armed forces get the hardware they need in the years ahead.

“The increased financial contingency will help cover future risk and make our equipment programme affordable. There is also greater information for industry about our priorities, helping them to invest in the future capabilities our troops need,” he said.

He insisted that the switch to the carrier variant of the F35 had been “right at the time”, but that “unacceptable cost growth, technical risk and project delays” meant the decision to revert to the jump jet was “in the best interest of defence”.