Vigilance can report that the Public Accounts Committee has published their report into the Cost Effective Delivery of an Armoured Vehicle Capability.
Responding to the report, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff said: “The armoured vehicle programme was left in a mess by the previous Government. We are now sorting out their unrealistic and unaffordable plans by balancing the budget, investing real money in equipment and reforming outdated procurement practices.”
Minister Luff argued: “However, the PAC is again misrepresenting the facts. It is not true to say the £1.1Bn spent on armoured vehicles has not delivered any equipment. It has delivered Titan, Trojan and Viking vehicles, with Trojan and Viking used on operations in Afghanistan.”
According to Luff adapting to changing threats the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) process has correctly been used to swiftly deliver world-class equipment to the frontline.
He added: “ Since May 2010 more than £350M has been approved for vehicles in Afghanistan including the new Foxhound patrol vehicle which will be delivered shortly. Overall more than two thousand new protected vehicles have been delivered for Afghanistan through the UOR process.”
Luff revealed: “We recently announced a £1Bn upgrade to the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle fleet and over the next ten years we plan to invest a total of £5.5Bn in armoured vehicles.”