Britain’s ability to fight a future war against Russia is being damaged by a procurement “vacuum” created by delays to a crucial defence spending blueprint, senior military figures have warned. The delays risk leaving the UK short of the weapons and manpower needed to counter the heightened threat from Russia.
The Government is under increasing pressure to deliver its long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which promises £300bn of investment over a decade. However, wrangling between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury over a reported £28bn funding gap has delayed the plan, originally expected last October, until at least June.
General Sir Richard Barrons, former director of operations for UK Armed Forces, said he is “frankly alarmed” at the slow progress, warning it creates a damaging sense of “there being a lot of time to put matters right”. He said: “The clock is actually owned by our potential opponents, with Russia very much to the fore.”
Kevin Craven, chief executive of ADS Group, described the situation as “a vacuum” and warned of a “knock-on effect” on the military’s ability to mobilise quickly if conflict arose. Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt said: “We won’t be ready or capable unless we act now. Other nations are cracking on. We are not.”
Defence Secretary John Healey said the Government was working to “put right” previous procurement programmes “unsuited to the threats we face”. He confirmed the DIP would be published later this year.
