Reid Unveils Radical Overhaul of UK Defence Industry

UK Ministry of Defence, Launching the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), John Reid said: 
 
“The Defence Industrial Strategy I am publishing today is as important for the defence industry as the strategic defence review was for the Armed Forces. 
 
“It is driven by our military imperative to give our Armed Forces the battle winning kit they need. 
 
“In short today we are telling industry what we think we will need, what will be strategic to the UK, where we will be spending taxpayer's money and how we will engage with the market. 
 
“This Strategy provides outstanding clarity for industry to plan for a sustainable healthy future. “This will enable industry to deliver best value for money to us as a smart customer and ensure taxpayer's money is wisely used. 
 
“This strategy means we will maintain the strategic skills we need for the nation and invest in the future of defence in areas like Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles. 
 
“We need the skills to fight the next war not the last one. Skills and capabilities needed by this country change over time – we do not need sword or bow and arrow factories to win wars any longer. The skills we needed in the past were rope making, sail making and signal flags. 
 
“Now we need the high value, technological and systems engineering skills required to enable us to ensure that our current in-service fleets can be maintained, supported and upgraded and that we have in the UK the ability to build and design the sorts of equipment that we require now, and in the future. 
 
John Reid also set out the timing of the DIS: 
 
“The Government is in the middle of a major programme of transformation and is investing heavily in new ships (including Type 45 and the future Carrier), aircraft (Typhoon, Joint Combat Aircraft) and armoured fighting vehicles (FRES). This massive programme of work means now is the best time to look beyond that period to the future. We must plan now in times of plenty for many years away when orders may be fewer. 
 
Announcements in the DIS include: 
 
— The signing of an in principle agreement on a partnering arrangement with BAE Systems to support our existing AFV fleet more effectively, safeguarding critical skills to produce high end technology. 
 
— New UAV technology projects looking forward to the day when unmanned aerial vehicles including combat versions, complement fast jets and help to inform choices about the mix of manned and unmanned aircraft in our future force. 
 
— The award of an innovative contract worth some