The Strategic Defence and Security Review


Book Description

On 7 July 2009 the Ministry of Defence announced its plan for a Strategic Defence Review to follow the 2010 General Election. The predecessor Defence Committee reported its views on the proposed Review in its fourth report of session 2009-10 (HC 53, ISBN 9780215543912). The current Defence Committee supports the recommendation in that report that the Review be broadened in scope in order to set the country's defence needs in a stronger foreign and security policy context. It is however recognised that the inclusion of broadly defined security concerns within the Review risks the dilution of the defence contribution. Immediate or short-term security issues and threats might dominate the Review to the exclusion of the medium to long-term defence assessments made by the MoD. The Government's need to tackle the deficit is understood yet there is concern at the possible consequences of the MoD's budget not being ring-fenced for the future, unlike those of the DFID and Department of Health. The capacity of the country even to sustain current in-use capabilities and therefore current operations could well be put at risk by the proposed cuts of between 10% and 20%. This report looks at these risks and the specific issues, including those of public consultation and the speed at which the Review process is being undertaken, involved




Defence Equipment 2009


Book Description

The mission of the MoD's (Ministry of Defence's) Defence Equipment and Support (DE & S) organisation is to equip and support our Armed Forces for operations now and in the future. Support to current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq has taken priority and the organisation has performed well. The Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) system remains highly effective in enabling vital equipment to be provided quickly to the two theatres to meet rapidly changing threats, but there are concerns that UORs represent a partial failure to equip our forces for predicted expeditionary operations, and on their effects on the core budget in future years. DE & S' performance in procuring longer-term equipment declined significantly in 2007-08. The forecast costs for the 20 largest defence projects increased by £205 million and the forecast delays increased by some 100 months in the year. The improvements promised by both the long-standing application of the principles of 'smart procurement' and the more recent formation of the DE & S organisation appear not to have materialised. The FRES (Future Rapid Effect System) programme has been a fiasco, being poorly conceived and managed from the outset. The Committee condemns the failure to date to publish an updated version of the Defence Industrial Strategy and considers that its continuing absence increases the risk that the UK Defence Industrial Base will not be able to meet the future requirements of our Armed Forces. Finally, the UK's future military capability depends on the investment made today in Research and Development. Sufficient funding for defence research needs to be ring-fenced and the MoD must recognise the very high priority of research and reverse the recent cut in research spending.




Ministry of Defence annual report and accounts 2008-09


Book Description

This report examines the administration, expenditure, activities and achievements of the MoD during the 2008-09 financial year, as detailed in the Ministry of Defence annual report and accounts 2008-09 (ISBN 9780102962239). It continues a series of inquiries and, indeed, the Committee sees it as cause for concern that the NAO found the need to qualify the MoD's resource accounts for the third consecutive year. Whilst it is acknowledged that capability in theatre must be the Department's first concern, failing to maintain accurate and full information on personnel and to keep track of assets has the potential to threaten the long-term capability of the Department, including operational capability.







Legislative Calendar


Book Description




Army Personnel Recovery (FM 3-50. 1)


Book Description

Field Manual (FM) 3-50.1 is the Army's doctrinal publication for personnel recovery. It presents doctrinal guidance and direction for Army personnel recovery operations and is the foundation for developing tactics and techniques, handbooks, and unit standard operating procedures. It provides operational direction for commanders, staffs, and trainers at all echelons, from company through theater army. This doctrine helps ensure all echelons of the Army organize, train, and equip to conduct personnel recovery and prevent isolation incidents. This FM supersedes and builds on the groundbreaking work of FM 3-50.1, Army Personnel Recovery, 10 August 2005, by articulating the importance of the commander in successful personnel recovery operations, enlarging its scope to include stability operations and defense support of civil authorities operations, and addressing unified land operations. This updated manual incorporates the doctrinal concepts in FM 1, The Army; ADP 3-0, Unified Land Operations; FM 3-07, Stability Operations; and FM 3-28, Civil Support Operations. Army personnel recovery doctrine is consistent with joint personnel recovery doctrine, applicable Department of Defense directives (DODDs) and instructions (DODIs), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff instructions and manuals, Army policy and regulation, and federal law. It is Department of Defense (DOD) policy, established in DODD 3002.01E, to preserve the lives and well-being of individuals who are in danger of becoming, or already are, beleaguered, besieged, captured, detained, interned, or otherwise missing or evading capture while participating in activities or missions sponsored by the United States. The target audience for FM 3-50.1 is Army commanders and staffs responsible for the planning, preparation, execution, and assessment of personnel recovery operations. This manual provides guidance for other Service commanders and staffs who command and work with Army forces. This manual is also a resource for United States government agencies and other unified action partners who seek to understand the role of the Army in safeguarding and recovering Soldiers.