British soldiers would be forced to fight in obsolete armoured vehicles if called to confront a peer adversary such as Russia, a parliamentary report has warned. The Commons Defence Committee described efforts to modernise the Army's fleet of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) as 'woeful', leaving the force at 'serious risk' of being outmatched.
The report, titled 'Obsolescent and Outgunned', highlighted 'bureaucratic procrastination' and 'general ineptitude' that had blighted re-equipment attempts over the past two decades. It noted that the UK's main battle tank inventory had fallen from around 1,200 in 1990 to just 227 today, with armoured vehicle capability reaching 'a point of batch obsolescence'.
Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood said the AFV programme had been 'plagued with uncertainties', with investment decisions hampered by unclear requirements and competing priorities. The report comes ahead of the government's Integrated Review of defence and security policy, which is expected to focus on new technology such as robots and cyber capabilities.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson acknowledged the report's recommendations and pointed to a £24bn defence settlement to deliver 'an upgraded, digitised and networked armoured force'. However, MPs expressed doubt, warning that armoured capabilities risk being 'denuded' in favour of promises of advanced future systems.
The report stated that the Army is four years away from fielding a 'warfighting division' and that even under current plans it would be 'hopelessly under-equipped'. It urged the government to urgently address shortfalls in artillery, air defence and anti-drone capabilities, citing Russian investments that proved decisive in Ukraine in 2014.
