MoD defends tank overhaul’s delays and costs

DEFENCE bosses have spent at least £381 million overhauling British tanks, new figures reveal, amid concerns over costs and delays.

Lockheed Martin was hired six years ago to overhaul and fit new gun turrets to Britain’s ageing fleet of Warriors, which have served in the Gulf, Bosnia and Iraq.

But Ministry of Defence documents show the upgrade is a year behind schedule, with delays incurring extra costs.

Up to 380 new Warriors were to be upgraded under the original plans, forming the backbone of two armoured infantry brigades planned as part of a reorganisation of the British Army.

However, reports last month suggested one other brigade could be disbanded, with hundreds of its fighting vehicles scrapped as part of a drive to cut costs.

A review of the defence spending programme is also under way.

Labour’s Kevan Jones, a former defence minister, said: “Minsters need to urgently explain how £381 million has already been spent on a vehicle that might now only be deployed in very limited numbers.”

An MOD spokesman said of the cost so far: “This money has been used to develop state-of-the-art upgrades and demonstration vehicles for the Warrior platform as we look to enhance it for the future and boost army capabilities.”