Nuclear and carrier programmes adversely skewing spending on equipment

The UK Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth class carriers are miracles of engineering. There is no doubt however that the cost of the carriers -- and of the UK's seaborne nuclear deterrent -- has had massive effect on other equipment programmes and on the UK's already over-stretched defe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Warship technology 2018-03, p.5-5
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Armed forces
Contingency
Defence craft
Defense programs
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Military
Naval engineering
Warships
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The UK Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth class carriers are miracles of engineering. There is no doubt however that the cost of the carriers -- and of the UK's seaborne nuclear deterrent -- has had massive effect on other equipment programmes and on the UK's already over-stretched defence budget. As reported in the October 2017 issue of Warship Technology, it is said that the UK Royal Navy can only send a quarter of its warships to sea due to spending cuts which have left the armed forces "struggling to protect Britain's citizens." According to a January 2018 report from the National Audit Office, spending on equipment and associated support in the 2017 Plan is projected to be L179.7 billion, including a L6 billion contingency. But even after assuming the contingency will be used, the NAO has calculated a minimum affordability gap of L4.9 billion.
ISSN:0957-5537