AGEING ARMY FLEET WOULD BE OUTGUNNED
The British Army’s ageing tanks and armoured vehicles are likely to be outgunned and overmatched in any conflict with Russian forces, MPs have warned.
In a scathing repor t , the Commons Defence Committee said botched procurement programmes had left the Army with an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) f leet facing “mass obsolescence”.
It said any “artillery duel” between a British and Russian division is “likely to end one way – and not necessarily to the British Army’s advantage”.
The committee blamed “bureaucratic procrastina
tion, military indecision, financial mismanagement and general ineptitude” over the past two decades.
The report – entitled “Obsolescent and outgunned” – comes as Boris Johnson prepares to set out on Tuesday the results of the Government’s integrated review of foreign, defence, security and development policy.
It is expected to mark a shift away from “industrial age” capabi l ities – like heavy armour – towards the battlef ields of the future such as cyber and space.
But the committee said whatever the outcome of the review, the Army needs to regain its “credibility” as it currently lacks sufficient armoured capability to make an “effective contribution” to Nato deterrence.
A s er ie s of f a i led procurement programmes means there are vehicles dating back to the 60s.
Former army chief Lord Dannatt said: “The Russians are laughing at us, the Americans shake their heads.”