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Joint strike fighter decision was flawed, MPs say Joint strike fighter decision was flawed, MPs say
(about 5 hours later)
MPs have accused the Ministry of Defence of making a "rushed and flawed" decision to switch fighter aircraft for the Royal Navy's new carriers.MPs have accused the Ministry of Defence of making a "rushed and flawed" decision to switch fighter aircraft for the Royal Navy's new carriers.
The defence committee said the 2010 decision to opt for the carrier variant of the joint strike fighter, rather than the jump jet, had been a mistake.The defence committee said the 2010 decision to opt for the carrier variant of the joint strike fighter, rather than the jump jet, had been a mistake.
It said this had led to increased costs and delays to the carrier programme. Chairman James Arbuthnot said millions of pounds was wasted and delays caused.
Ministers said the decision, which was reversed back to jump jets last May, had been "right at the time". But ministers said the decision, which was reversed back to jump jets last May, had been "right at the time".
The previous Labour government had placed orders for two new aircraft carriers to be equipped with the F-35B variant of the American built joint strike fighter (JSF), which is capable of short take-off and vertical landing.
'Learn lessons''Learn lessons'
But the coalition announced in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) that it favoured the F-35C version, which has a longer range and can carry more weapons. The previous Labour government had placed orders for two new aircraft carriers to be equipped with the F-35B variant of the American built joint strike fighter (JSF), which is capable of short take-off and vertical landing.
But the coalition announced in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review that it favoured the F-35C version, which has a longer range and can carry more weapons.
The decision came amid fears the costs of fitting necessary equipment were spiralling out of control.The decision came amid fears the costs of fitting necessary equipment were spiralling out of control.
The Commons defence committee said that it was clear the government's decision to change the variant of fighter jet for the UK's new carriers had been "rushed and based upon incomplete and inaccurate policy development". The Commons defence committee said it was clear the government's decision to change the variant of fighter jet for the UK's new carriers had been "rushed and based upon incomplete and inaccurate policy development".
It urged the MoD to learn the lessons of what it called the "closed, rushed and flawed decision of 2010", saying said the decision had been taken "without the MoD understanding how the change could be implemented". The decision had been taken "without the MoD understanding how the change could be implemented", the committee said.
The committee's report also recommended that the MoD should spend more on defence science and technology, and research and development. Its chairman, the Conservative MP James Arbuthnot, described it as a "bit of a shambles" and said it was "not the way the MoD should be making decisions".
"[It] was a mistake which cost many millions of pounds and caused a lot of upset and delay and concern and it's not a mistake that should happen again - it's a mistake from which lessons should be learned," he said.
The committee's report also recommended the MoD should spend more on defence science and technology, and research and development.
Otherwise, it warned, the emphasis on cheaper "off-the-shelf procurement" from other nations could come to threaten the UK's ability to defend itself.Otherwise, it warned, the emphasis on cheaper "off-the-shelf procurement" from other nations could come to threaten the UK's ability to defend itself.
Defence Equipment Minister Philip Dunne said the MoD's newly published 10-year £160bn equipment plan would ensure that the armed forces had the hardware they needed in the coming years.Defence Equipment Minister Philip Dunne said the MoD's newly published 10-year £160bn equipment plan would ensure that the armed forces had the hardware they needed in the coming years.
'Confidence blow''Confidence blow'
He said: "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: "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."
The minister also said 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".The minister also said 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".
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said that the wasted time and money in changing the fighter jets for the carriers had led to a serious capability gap, and meant the UK had paid at least an extra £100m to have no aircraft to fly from the carrier for years. Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the wasted time and money had led to a serious capability gap, and meant the UK had paid at least an extra £100m to have no aircraft to fly from the carrier for years.
Mr Murphy said the report was "another blow to the country's confidence in the government's competence on defence".Mr Murphy said the report was "another blow to the country's confidence in the government's competence on defence".

F-35B STOVL

Short Take Off Vertical Landing Cost per aircraft: £65.5m* Combat range: 1,667km (900nm) Selected: Trials by 2018

F-35C Carrier Variant

Hook wire landing system Cost per aircraft: £59.9m* Extra cost to adapt carrier: £2bn Combat range: 2,200km (1,200nm) Rejected: Due to carrier conversion costs F-35B STOVL Source: JSF, MoD, *2012 prices