Brigadier accuses MoD of 'Yes Minister' kit farces that put soldiers at risk

Published on Wednesday 26 November 2008 01:00

THE Ministry of Defence will be accused today of putting cost-savings on equipment projects ahead of ensuring troops fighting on the frontline have the kit they need.

Brigadier Bill Kincaid, a retired former MoD director of operational requirements, will say that the department's acquisition programmes were wasteful, "delay-inclined", "anti-innovation" and lacking in firm leadership.

In a new book, published by the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, he will say that a focus on bureaucratic processes meant that too often equipment arrived months – if not years – after it was needed by troops on the ground.

He will warn that it may take a major military defeat to shake the MoD out of its "institutional inertia".

"Accountants' logic too often takes precedent over military logic and the financial bottom line is the overriding factor," he will say. "Even if this may save a relatively small sum of money, or decrease the very short-term risk, the potential increase in casualties is considered as a minor factor.

"Seemingly it needs a major defence shock to change things – a major defeat in the field, perhaps, or the collapse of DIS (the defence industrial strategy] with the demise of the onshore defence industry."

His scathing attack comes at a time when the quality of military equipment is once again under scrutiny, with the resignation last month of Major Sebastian Morley, the commander of D Squadron, 23 SAS in Afghanistan, who reportedly cited "chronic under-investment" by the MoD.

Brig Kincaid will say that despite government claims of an increase in the defence budget, it was actually falling in real terms because the cost of military equipment was increasing at more than double the general rate of inflation.

However, it was difficult make a strong case to the Treasury for more cash for the armed forces unless the MoD was able to eliminate the "substantial waste" in the procurement process.

He will say that too often, the process resembled a stage farce or an episode of the television comedy, Yes Minister.

"But defence is not a black comedy nor a stage farce – defence is far more important than that. We need to take tough action.

"Unless we do, our armed forces will be fighting in a wartime environment and we will be supporting them with a peacetime mentality."