A|D|S has published its response to the Government’s consultation paper on Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security.
The deadline for such responses closed yesterday when A|D|S submitted its detailed contribution. In the response, some of which is highlighted below, A|D|S makes clear that the UK defence industry is a crucial partner for the Government if it is to achieve its aims around support to the Armed Forces and the Force 2020 vision, on economic growth and on exports. Furthermore, the response notes that without sufficient investment in the UK sector the industry will be unable to develop new battle-winning products onshore specific to our own Armed Forces as well as products for export. A|D|S sees great potential for development of the fragmented UK security market, and supports proposals for Government and industry to work together more effectively to support national security and promote economic growth.
Rees Ward, Chief Executive of A|D|S, said: “The UK industry is a crucial partner for the UK Government to achieve its military and economic aims and the Green Paper offers an excellent opportunity to suggest ideas to the Government about reforms and improvements to deliver additional benefits for our troops and security authorities. This will also benefit the taxpayer through providing increased value for money and enhanced public protection. We welcome the open attitude in which this consultation has been carried out and we look forward to further discussions with the Government on how industry can help in the future.
“In the industry’s view the White Paper that will follow this Green Paper should describe how the UK’s national security policy can both underpin the nation’s defence and bring broader value to our economy, including how Government policy can contribute to advanced manufacturing and engineering, to the skill base and to British exports.
”The experience of the defence and security sectors as well as their excellence in products and services is recognised both at home and by other nations. The UK is number one in Europe and second only to the US worldwide in the defence exports market with a 21 per cent market share. Furthermore, the innovative and proven UK security sector is primed for global growth providing the correct climate is delivered by the Government. UK industry is also a world leader in providing engineering and training support services through innovative contracts and partnerships that demonstrably reduce MoD costs and have great potential as an export model in their own right alongside equipment sales.
“Industry believes that the Government would gain through assessing the economic benefits of the UK defence and security supply chain as well as the unique strategic value of the industry to the nation and to UK national security.”
The A|D|S response to the Green Paper contains the following points:
* The White Paper should reinforce the Government’s welcome focus on exports and ensure that this results in a coherent approach embracing Research and Technology, equipment planning, procurement, export promotion, licensing and finance. It should also consider the stark dilemma that if available funds are used increasingly to import commercial off-the-shelf equipment, and research and technology in the UK is reduced, UK intellectual property will diminish and so, in time, will exports and the UK supply chain.
* The Government needs to be realistic about the security of supply implications of reliance on other nations for defence and security science and technology. State of the art technology may increasingly be generated in countries which will not want to share it with the UK, or not on acceptable terms. The UK should retain core capabilities in key areas of science and technology, civil and military, and should be prepared to invest to develop new technologies to meet future threats.
* There are no shortcuts to obtaining a world class technological and industrial base for defence and security. Capabilities once lost are rarely recoverable; risks taken with this base will almost certainly translate into military and security risk before too long.
* A|D|S considers the successful implementation of acquisition reform in the Ministry of Defence to be critical to the future relationship between the Department and industry.
Notes
The Green Paper can be found at http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/ConsultationsandCommunications/PublicConsultations/EquipmentSupportAndTechnologyForUkDefenceAndSecurityAConsultationPaper.htm.
The A|D|S response to the consultation is available at http://www.adsgroup.org.uk/community/cms/content/preview/news_item_view.asp?i=22335&t=0
About A|D|S
A|D|S is the trade organisation advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries with Farnborough International Limited as a wholly-owned subsidiary. A|D|S also encompasses the British Aviation Group (BAG). It was formed from the merger of the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers (APPSS), the Defence Manufacturers Association (DMA) and the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) in October 2009. For more information –
